Ruben Amorim has defended his decision to leave Kobbie Mainoo on the bench during Manchester United’s 1-1 draw with West Ham on Thursday night.

Diogo Dalot put United in front in the second half with an excellent touch and finish from close range, however, Amorim’s side were unable to hold on to their advantage as Soungoutou Magassa equalised for West Ham with seven minutes remaining.

Amorim used all five of his substitutions with Leny Yoro replacing Ayden Heaven at half time, while Dalot was brought off for Patrick Dorgu before Manuel Ugarte and Mason Mount were brought on for Matheus Cunha and Joshua Zirkzee. With two minutes remaining, Amoim replaced Luke Shaw with Lisandro Martinez.

Mainoo, meanwhile, has not started a game since the penalty shootout defeat to Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup in August and has now been an unused substitute for the fourth time in the Premier League this season.

When asked if he would reconsider his conservative substitutions after the draw with West Ham, Amorim said: ‘No, we are losing because of the second balls, sometimes it’s not more men in front that you are going to win the ball.

‘We had more men to put in the offence? Who? Who would be more offensive?’

When Mainoo’s name was suggested, Amorim laughed and replied: ‘Yes, it was the second ball and I was worried with Matheus, I know Bruno [Fernandes] reached the box really well, Mason Mount is playing in his position, they were trying to push us, Bryan [Mbeumo] has a lot of pace to try to win the ball in one transition, so that was my idea.’

Amorim also admits he has concerns over United’s inability to see out games from winning positions.

‘I always have the feeling, I think everyone has the feeling we need to score more goals, nothing is sure,’ Amorim said.

‘Even with Brighton, we were 3-0 and suddenly… so we suffer with that, we are inconsistent, we need to improve.’

The draw leaves United eighth in the Premier League with 22 points from 14 games and two points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.

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Roy Keane took aim at Mason Mount following Manchester United’s draw with West Ham, insisting the midfielder ‘looked like a schoolboy’ after coming off the bench at Old Trafford.

After a dismal 1-0 defeat to Everton last Monday, United turned in another insipid display in front of their own fans on Thursday night, missing the chance to move into fifth place with a 1-1 draw with the Hammers.

After a lifeless first-half display, Diogo Dalot gave the hosts the lead just before the hour mark but Ruben Amorim’s side were undone on a corner on 83 minutes with Soungoutou Magassa scoring a late leveller.

Following Dalot’s opener, the full-back was replaced by Patrick Dorgu with Amorim making further changes as his side chased a second with Mount and Manuel Ugarte coming onto replace Cunha and Zirkzee. Lisandro Martinez replaced Luke Shaw late on with Kobbie Mainoo left among the subs.

Former United captain Keane was scathing in his post-match criticism, bemoaning the lack of attacking options on the bench.

The former midfielder accused Amorim’s changes of ‘bringing the levels down’ before turning his ire towards Mount.

Keane told Sky Sports: ‘When you look at the squad, considering the money that has been spent, they lack strength in depth. Particularly in the attacking areas.

‘When you are trying to see a game off, I look at Mason Mount when he came on, some players take longer to get up to speed but he was like a schoolboy out there.

‘You’re looking for players to come on with presence.

‘If anything they brought the levels down at United. That seemed to be the case tonight.’

United watched the teams around them all drop points during the midweek round of action but once again failed to capitalise.

‘Defensively and in midfield, there are huge questions,’ Keane said. ‘I wouldn’t trust or believe in this team that they can get results.

‘The reason you are playing for Man Utd is that you deal with these situations.

‘You try and deal better being one up against a team in the bottom three and Everton with 10 men. If you can’t deal with that, how can you deal with being a team in the top of the table?

‘If they are anxious, you worry why they are playing for Man Utd and what they are fearful of. Fearful of West Ham, why?’

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