The game saw his half-brother, Jordan Mainoo-Hames, wear a ‘free Kobbie Mainoo’ T-shirt at the stadium, and that caused a real stir on social media. The reaction may well have been to the news that was made clear to his camp over the weekend that Mainoo will not be sold in January.

Kobbie Mainoo has not started a Premier League game for Manchester United this season and has been linked with a move away in the January transfer window.

Former Manchester United star Paul Ince has urged Kobbie Mainoo to leave Old Trafford in January and has warned that the 20-year-old risks missing out on England's 2026 World Cup squad if he continues to languish on the bench.

For England's forgotten men there is a clean slate under Thomas Tuchel, and their exclusions are a sign that football moves fast