Manchester United may have just unearthed the next Roy Keane, says former goalkeeper Ben Foster.
The recently retired Wrexham stopper was speaking to The United Stand in the wake of Manchester United’s impressive 3-0 victory over Everton.
The two stars of the show were teenagers Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo, the latter of who was making his first ever Premier League start.
Mainoo earned praise from Sky Sports pundit and Manchester United legend Roy Keane, and Foster believes there is a comparison between the two.
Ben Foster praises Kobbie Mainoo
Foster began by describing what he liked about 18-year-old Mainoo’s performance. He admired his confidence, and how the Manchester United youngster seemed to enjoy it.
He said: “Fantastic, I loved it, that’s the type of player you want on the pitch, in the sense of assuredness, not bothered by what surrounds him.
“He was just playing football for the football’s sake, it was lovely to see, he had a fantastic debut and everybody should be really proud of him.”
Foster went onto talk about how Roy Keane just loved playing football too, whoever he was lining up for, and while Mainoo has a less aggressive approach, he sees the similarities especially in terms of their eagerness to take on possession.
He said: “Roy Keane, it didn’t matter who he was playing for, he could have been playing for a League Two team at bottom of the league and he would have run around like an absolute madman, shouting at everybody, trying to improve everybody, lift everybody.
“He wants the ball, makes himself available, that’s what you saw off that lad yesterday, that’s the sort of player Man United need.”
Manchester United have struggled for balance
Mainoo’s desire to get on the ball was refreshing. This is an area United have struggled this season, with players treating the ball like a hot potato, unable to retain possession, or show for it in the first place.
Scott McTominay is a player who has drawn criticism. In Manchester United’s win over Luton, he completed only six passes in the first half.
Mainoo completed 38 passes in 71 minutes against Everton, showing for the ball wherever he could, popping up in the final third, and displaying a deft touch, able to hold off opponents physically too.
This is just one game, and Mainoo will have tougher challenges ahead of him. But as first league starts go, this was pretty much perfect.
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