The one thing Manchester United can give Kobbie Mainoo that might smooth contract talks

In his last five starts for Manchester United, Kobbie Mainoo has played in three different positions. In a two-week spell at the end of January alone, he went from a holding midfielder to an attacking midfielder to a striker.

As he plots his way back after an untimely injury, he came on as a game-changing striker against Lyon before dropping back to the No.10 role against Wolves. While he tries to force his way into the team for United's Europa League run-in, the 20-year-old is still trying to figure out where his future lies under Ruben Amorim.

When he spent four games partnering Manuel Ugarte in the deep midfield positions at the start of January, including in encouraging team displays at Anfield and the Emirates, there was an assumption that the uncompromising Urugayan and the silky skills of the lad from Stockport could forge one of the first long-term partnerships of the Amorim era.

But in a Europa League win in Bucharest, Mainoo was shifted forward, played superbly and then heard Amorim cast considerable doubt over whether he had what it takes to play in one of those more defensive-minded midfield positions.

"He was struggling a lot defending as a midfielder. Now more as a ten, you can feel that he was so free, playing the ball near the box is really good, the small connections," explained Amorim.

"We need time to work with the players and understand the best positions for them."

That last comment was the most instructive of all. It suggested Amorim had arrived at United with a view of Mainoo as a No.6, a role he fulfilled under Erik ten Hag, but has gradually viewed him as someone better closer to the opposition box.

His nifty footwork and devastating finish against Lyon show why that is the case. Since the last