Erik ten Hag explains Kobbie Mainoo substitution at half-time of defeat to Nottingham Forest

Mainoo played the entirety of the defeat at West Ham seven days ago and contested 81 minutes in the comeback victory over Aston Villa on Tuesday night. 

The midfielder’s inclusion in the XI for the trip to Forest meant he started three games in the space of a week for the first time in his senior career, just over a month after he was first named in our Premier League line-up, away to Everton.

Ten Hag was pleased with the vitality Scott McTominay was able to add to the team after his introduction, at the end of a busy week, even if the half did not pan out as intended following our no.39’s introduction.

“I don’t regret [the substitution]. I thought Scott, he brought energy, I think second half was much better [from] our side,” the boss added.