Why Kobbie Mainoo and two Man United stars are not in confirmed 21

Why Kobbie Mainoo and two Man United stars are not in confirmed 21-man Premier League squad

Manchester United confirmed a 21-man squad for the Premier League campaign that can be amended again in January

Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo was not included in the Reds' 21-man squad for the Premier League season but will still be eligible to play in the top flight for Ruben Amorim.

Mainoo has had a rocky time playing under Amorim since the Portuguese arrived at Old Trafford in November. The midfielder has not played the amount of games he would have liked and has found himself struggling to fit into the new system.

After signing Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, United have chosen to move captain Bruno Fernandes deeper meaning Mainoo is now in direct competition with the Portuguese playmaker for that position. The Englishman's only start this season came in the Carabao Cup defeat at Grimsby Town and soon afterwards he requested a loan spell away from the club.

This request was denied by Amorim and Mainoo would stay put in the summer. However, there is clearly a desire on Mainoo's side to gain more minutes and, as of yet, it is unclear whether that is something United can offer.

Unsurprisingly, Mainoo is a popular figure among the fanbase and many fans would have had their hearts in their mouths when they saw that the midfielder was not included in Amorim's squad list for the remainder of the campaign. However, thanks to the midfielder's age, he does not have to be registered along with most of his first-team colleagues.

The Premier League allows its clubs to name an indefinite list of U21 players who they would like to see feature in the division this season on top of the maximum of 25 required on the squad list. An U21 player is defined as anyone who was born on or after January 1, 2004 this season.

As such Mainoo (born April 19, 2005), Leny Yoro (born November 13, 2005) and Ayden Heaven (born September 22, 2006), were all able to feature in the U21 list rather than taking up a space in the main 21-man squad list. As for that squad list, United must ensure that no more than 17 players do not fulfill the 'Home Grown Player' requirement.

To classify as homegrown, a player must, regardless of their nationality, must have been registered with any club affiliated to The Football Association or the Football Association of Wales for a period, continuous or not, of three entire seasons, or 36 months, before his 21st birthday. United's full squad and U21 list can be found below.

Squad list

Goalkeepers - Altay Bayindir, Tom Heaton*, Senne Lammens, Dermot Mee*

Defenders - Rhys Bennett*, Diogo Dalot, Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire*, Tyrell Malacia, Lisandro Martinez, Noussair Mazraoui, Luke Shaw*

Midfielders - Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes, Mason Mount*, Manuel Ugarte

Attackers - Amad*, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko, Joshua Zirkzee

U21 list

Goalkeepers - Cameron Byrne-Hughes, Elyh Harrison**, Fred Heath, Will Murdock, Zachary Watson

Defenders - Sonny Aljofree**, Harry Amass**, Dan Armer, Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu, Tyler Fredricson, Ayden Heaven, Yuel Helafu, Louis Jackson**, Jaydan Kamason, Godwill Kukonki, Diego Leon, Rafe McCormack, Jay McEvoy, Albert Mills, Reece Munro, Jayden Ngwashi, Habeeb Ogunneye**, James Overy, Dante Plunkett, Jacob Watson, Leny Yoro

Midfielders - James Bailey, Toby Collyer**, Jacob Devaney, Jayce Fitzgerald, Jack Fletcher, Tyler Fletcher, Dan Gore**, Amir Ibragimov, Edward Ibrovic-Fletcher, Sekou Kone, Kobbie Mainoo, Sam Mather, Finley McAllister, Jack Moorhouse**, Jariyah Shah, Jim Thwaites

Attackers - Noah Ajayi, Neithan Barbosa, Gabriele Biancheri, Louie Bradbury, Nathaniel-Junior Brown, Ethan Ennis**, Enzo Kana-Biyik**, Shea Lacey, Samuel Lusale, Bendito Mantato, Ashton Missin, Victor Musa, Chido Obi, James Scanlon, Malachi Sharpe, Ethan Wheatley**, Ethan Williams**

* = homegrown player

** = currently on loan

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