Man United fans believe they've spotted a clue that Kobbie Mainoo's kit number

Manchester United fans believe they've spotted a hint that Kobbie Mainoo's kit nmuber is changing.

Mainoo burst on to the scene and became a key figure for the Red Devils last season, making 32 appearances after recovering from a summer ankle injury.

He has reported back for training this week after being given a break following England's run to the Euro 2024 final.

Joining him are Lisandro Martinez, Facundo Pellistri, and Luke Shaw, who were also given holidays after their international exploits.

Eagle-eyed supporters have noticed a key difference separating him fromhis fellow returners, sending the rumour mill into a frenzy.

The difference? His training kit does not have a number whereas theirs do.

As pictured at Carrington, Martinez donned a kit with six on it, Luke Shaw had 23, while Facundo Pellistri had 28. Where Mainoo should have had a number, there was nothing.

Mainoo had the squad number 73 for the 2022-23 season - in which he made one appaearances - before being upgraded to the bright lights of number 37 for the last campaign.

He does not seem to have a particular allegiance to the number, as in April he answered a fan who asked about it on the club webiste: 'It’s the number I was given. I didn’t really have a choice!

'I mean, last season, I was 73 and, to be honest, I didn’t really mind what number I changed to this season. Just give me 37.'

There are multiple options open if United wish to upgrade Mainoo to a higher priority number.

Sofyan Amrabat was gifted the number four for his loan spell last season and unless United re-sign him and hand it him again, that could be a logical option for Mainoo.

Raphael Varane has vacated the number 19 number after leaving at the end of his contract.

At the end of the season, it looked as if Christian Eriksen (14) and Casemiro (18)were likely candidates to leave, but that is not a given now.

'No number for Mainoo when everyone else seems to have one, might be moving from 37,' wrote one fan on X, formerly Twitter.

'Mainoo is changing his number,' one speculated.