Thomas Tuchel reveals Kobbie Mainoo injury setback ahead of Manchester United return

Manchester United have been handed an injury concern ahead of the new season after England head coach Thomas Tuchel confirmed Kobbie Mainoo missed the FIFA World Cup third-place play-off because of a back problem.

The 21-year-old midfielder was expected to feature against France after failing to make an appearance earlier in the tournament, but was ultimately left out of the matchday squad as England secured an entertaining 6-4 victory.

Mainoo was initially listed as injured on FIFA's official teamsheet before the Football Association confirmed he would miss the game.

After the match, Tuchel revealed the midfielder had suffered the issue during England's final training session.

"Kobbie was injured in the last training session on Friday morning. He had a sharp pain in the back during training and he was not ready to play."

Although Mainoo remained with the squad and watched the match from the sidelines, the injury prevented him from making what many expected would be his first appearance of the tournament.

The timing of the setback is far from ideal for Manchester United.

Mainoo is expected to return to Carrington following a short post-World Cup break, but the club's medical staff will now assess the extent of the back problem before integrating him into pre-season preparations.

Having finished the Premier League season in impressive form, the England international had been hoping to build on that momentum during the World Cup. Instead, he leaves the tournament without playing a single minute despite featuring in England's pre-tournament friendlies.

While there is no indication at this stage that the injury is serious, United will naturally take a cautious approach given the demanding schedule awaiting them this season.

Mainoo's lack of playing time had already become a talking point throughout England's World Cup campaign.

Despite competition in midfield and Declan Rice managing fitness issues during the tournament, the Manchester United youngster was overlooked in every match.

His frustration was evident at times during the competition, with television cameras frequently showing the midfielder leaving the dressing room quickly after matches while other players remained with the squad.

The injury against France ultimately ended any realistic chance of him making an appearance before England's campaign concluded.

Manchester United are preparing for a busy campaign that includes a return to the UEFA Champions League.

Michael Carrick has already welcomed new midfield additions, with Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos arriving to strengthen competition in the centre of the pitch.

Mainoo remains an important part of United's long-term plans, making his fitness over the coming weeks a priority as preparations continue following Saturday's 1-0 pre-season defeat to Wrexham.

Mainoo is expected to undergo further assessment when he reports back to Manchester United after his summer break. The club will hope the injury is no more than a short-term setback, allowing the midfielder to resume training before the Premier League season begins.

Further updates are likely once United's full squad returns to Carrington in the coming weeks.

How important will Kobbie Mainoo be to Manchester United's hopes of competing on multiple fronts this season?