Sky Sports pundit Roy Keane has dropped the ultimate compliment on Kobbie Mainoo after the Manchester United star’s sensational emergence in the first team.
Kobbie Mainoo missed the opening of Manchester United’s current campaign after he suffered an injury on the pre-season tour last summer.
However, the 18-year-old Stockport-born midfielder received his first Premier League start after his return from injury and impressed in the 3-0 win against Everton.
Mainoo, who revealed the dream player he would want to play alongside, has since remained in the first team and earned high praise for his impact in United’s midfield.
The United star scored for the first time for the senior team in last month’s 4-2 away win against Newport County in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Mainoo, who shared how he made it at United, played a starring role for the Red Devils last week in his side’s thrilling 4-3 away win against Wolves.
The England Under-19s international found the back of the net for the first time in the Premier League, with Mainoo’s injury-time winner sealing a win for United at the Molineux.
Keane’s big praise for Mainoo
Kobbie Mainoo started in Manchester United’s 3-0 win over West Ham at Old Trafford on Sunday, with the youngster putting in another solid performance.
Mainoo has earned high praise this season after his impact at United, with Rio Ferdinand boldly comparing the Red Devils player to one AC Milan legend.
Speaking ahead of the West Ham match, Roy Keane praised Mainoo over his ability and described the United youth academy product as a “smart” player.
The United legend added that the senior players would need to make sure Mainoo “learns,” but Keane believes that the youngster can reach the “very top.”
“He’s a smart, intelligent footballer and he can go right to the very top,” he said on Sky Sports.
“The senior players will need to keep him grounded, make sure he learns, but he’s got the composure and we’ve seen that already.
“Defensively, he can get around the pitch but the kid has a chance, obviously.”
Gary Neville on Mainoo’s United run so far
Gary Neville pointed out that Sofyan Amrabat, who was signed on loan from Fiorentina, wouldn’t have arrived at Old Trafford if Mainoo hadn’t been injured.
The Sky Sports pundit added that Mainoo is a “real star” and has “proven” both his quality and “temperament” to play in big matches for United.
“To be fair to Ten Hag, I made the inquiry in the transfer window over the summer about whether they needed another central midfielder,” Neville said.
“Amrabat was linked with them at the time but they’ve said that if Mainoo hadn’t been injured, they’d have not brought anyone in.
“Because he did go down, Amrabat came in, but the faith was there in him [Mainoo] from the start.
“He’s proven already that he’s got the quality as well as the temperament to play in these big matches, he’s a real star.”
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