During the 4-3 defeat to Salford City for Manchester United’s under-21s last week, one player stood out more than most on the pitch, which is a feat in itself coming up against first-team regulars for the EFL League Two side.
For Manchester United, that standout performer was Kobbie Mainoo. The teenage midfielder is causing serious waves amongst the United fanbase with there being calls for the 18-year-old to start during the Red Devils’ tough run of fixtures over the next few weeks.
The Englishman looked promising during pre-season and he shone against Arsenal and their £100 million midfielder Declan Rice.
The midfielder evaded tackles well, progressed the ball effortlessly and looked like an experienced United player in the engine room for Erik ten Hag.
The unfortunate injury that he suffered against Real Madrid has kept him out of action since then but the time may be right for this weekend’s game to be his big chance.
Mainoo’s chance to shine against Luton Town
With the injury to Casemiro set to keep him out of the team until Christmas, there is no better time than the present to include the 18-year-old midfielder in the starting lineup for the upcoming run of fixtures.
“He gets his chance because he deserves it. Because he showed it in the Under-21s and in our training,” said an excited Ten Hag during pre-season training this summer to the media.
Mainoo has proven himself to the manager, Ten Hag needs to be brave and believe in the midfielder.
Luton at Old Trafford in front of a home crowd who will be patient with you is exactly the right type of atmosphere to drop the youngster into.
He featured for 90 minutes against FC Copenhagen’s under-19s, the time is now for the 18-year-old to break into the team.
No other midfielder has nailed down a spot in Erik ten Hag’s team this season, so the time is right for the youngster to get involved.
Mainoo has all the tools to succeed
One criticism of the United midfield this season has been the ability, or lack of ability, to keep the ball.
Oftentimes, the United players will rush to get the ball forward to the attackers, losing possession in the process.
United’s average possession statistics in the Premier League is just 53 per cent, the eighth-best in the division and a whopping 10 per cent lower than their noisy neighbours Manchester City.
Mainoo, however, is different. He offers a sense of calm during the chaos, a midfielder who will play a five-yard pass just to calm the team down and recycle possession, something that the top sides know how to do.
He is the exact type of midfielder that the Red Devils need right now and is there any wonder that Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City may well be interested in his services? Lining up alongside Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount would certainly be a risk but one worth taking.
Fernandes, the United captain, branded the teenager a ‘star boy’ and it’s hard to disagree with the Portuguese midfielder’s assessment.
The United fans will have to be patient with the midfielder but he is the exact type of player who could thrive in the Premier League and prove why there is such big hype around this teenage sensation.
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