Three Manchester United transfer failures that have allowed Kobbie Mainoo's success

Before Sunday evening, the last time Kobbie Mainoo was substituted, with his team losing, the Old Trafford denizens booed loudly.

In the debriefs of that disappointing draw with Burnley in April, Erik ten Hag protested Mainoo was "f****d" as he had started three games in seven days. Manchester United had scraped past Championship side Coventry and Championship-bound Sheffield United. Here they were, goalless against Burnley, now in the Championship.

Christian Eriksen was waning and his age showed when he squandered a two-on-one. When it was Mainoo's number that was up, the outcry was audible and widespread.

It also reflected how pivotal and popular Mainoo is at United. Now the love-in is growing nationwide. The 19-year-old was one of a handful of respectable performers in England's fortuitous progression past Slovakia and, of all the players to make way at 1-0 down in the 84th minute, Mainoo was an inexplicable choice.

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England's games have been soundtracked to boos but, remarkably, there seemed to be only appreciative applause for Mainoo's withdrawal when their fans would have been forgiven for airing more disapproval in the direction of Gareth Southgate.

Had England been packing their bags this morning, the upside is it would have kiboshed the possibility of a former cycling team principal championing the former Middlesbrough manager to manage United. United should not touch Southgate with a bargepole.

His indecisive handling of Mainoo is another red flag. Mainoo was dropped on the eve of the European Championship after a subdued performance in the friendly defeat to