Manchester United youngster Kobbie Mainoo has made an impression already at the club, and it seems he was always destined for the top.
Kobbie Mainoo has played so well during the opening 11 starts of his Premier League career that there are calls for him to be included in the England squad.
Ian Wright and Gary Lineker were the latest to recommend Mainoo for the Three Lions squad, with the 18-year-old excelling at club level.
Mainoo is now a first team regular, and Manchester United have been busy preparing him for this.
How Manchester United ensured Mainoo was ready
Kobbie Mainoo was fast-tracked straight into the Manchester United first team by Erik ten Hag, without going on loan like many Red Devils youngsters.
But forward-thinking United ensured Mainoo spent some time in the lower leagues in training session.
In 2021, United launched a Pro Experience programme, similar to loans but in shorter stints, without the actual games.
Mainoo was one of the first two players involved in this programme, sent to Sheffield Wednesday for three weeks.
During this time he took part in training sessions, observed preparations for upcoming matches, and travelled with the squad, to get a taster of what first team football is like at a lower level, and to toughen them up.
Mainoo made an impression
Kobbie Mainoo arrived at Sheffield Wednesday as an unknown. He was just 16 at the time, but the Owls players were able to recognise his ability.
Josh Windass, a former Rangers player, explained via Pitch Side Live: “He trained with us every day for three weeks. He was serious.
“He was good, we didn’t know who he was at first, we was laughing because we was like he’s on trial, normally trialists are not very good, and he was like a decent player.”
Mainoo went on to win the FA Youth Cup at Manchester United in 2022, before making his Red Devils debut in 2023.
In 2024 he scored his first goals for the first team and it looks like the sky is the limit for what he can go onto achieve.
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