Kobbie Mainoo is just 81 minutes into his Premier League career but already has become a beacon of hope for Manchester United fans.
Gary Neville labelled him Manchester United‘s ‘best player by a street’ against Everton, after just his second league outing.
For sure, Alejandro Garnacho stole the headlines. How couldn’t he with that sublime bicycle kick? But 18-year old Mainoo was unflappable in the holding role, bringing life to what has been, at times this season, a stale midfield.
This was his first Premier League start. In pre-season, Mainoo shone, assisting Bruno Fernandes’ goal against Arsenal and earning a start against Real Madrid. That’s why it was so devastating when, after just 18 minutes against Los Blancos, he was forced off with the ankle injury that would make fans wait until now to see him again.
In a spirited display against Everton, Mainoo made a crucial goal-line clearance, won every tackle he went in for, and had the best passing accuracy of any starting player for the visitors. He helped to link United’s defence and midfield and took control of the No 6 position.
Kobbie Mainoo was instrumental to Man United’s 3-0 victory over Everton at Goodison Park
The midfielder was a calm presence and coped in a challenging atmosphere at Goodison Park
The 18-year-old midfielder made a crucial goal-line clearance in the victory against Everton
Taking control. It’s not a phrase commonly associated with United this year, but how he did it against the Toffees. Mail Sport understands that United would not have loaned in Sofyan Amrabat had Mainoo not been injured in pre-season, and it’s clear to see why. He looks ready for consistent first-team football, with the teenager already challenging team-mates with a decade more experience.
‘He has a lot of abilities,’ Erik ten Hag said after his performance. ‘It was a really disappointing moment in pre-season when he got so badly injured, for him and our team, because I know he can progress a lot if he plays many such games as today. We prepared him properly, but he did a great job and now he has to build from this.’
There’s a danger in hyping up young players too early. He should not be expected to be the answer to everything. The right thing for Mainoo now is to keep his head down, ignore the praise flooding his phone, and work furiously hard to earn every step on every blade of grass. Mainoo will still need time to grow, learn, and room to make mistakes.
That said, you don’t have to cower from stating his potential. Ten Hag trusts him enough to give him a chance to reach it.
Captain Bruno Fernandes gushed about Mainoo after the Everton game. ‘I always talk about Kobbie,’ he said. ‘I think he’s a special player too. What he puts on the game, what he gives to the team, it’s known to anyone (in the squad).
‘I think he has great players in front of him to learn [from] because he plays with one of the best in the world like Casemiro. Also Sofyan [Amrabat] who plays in that position – that is really good and he’s getting everything from them.
‘He wants to learn, is eager to learn and I think that’s probably the best capability he has because he wants to learn every time. He’s eager to listen to everyone to get better and better.’
Mainoo will likely get a run of games in the team because he has already earned the confidence of his manager and team-mates, something which is hard-earned.
Mail Sport understands that United would not have loaned in Sofyan Amrabat had Mainoo not picked up his pre-season injury
Erik ten Hag believes that Mainoo can ‘progress a lot’ and wants him to ‘build’ on his outing
It’s even worth asking: could a sustained run of brilliant form see him become a wildcard for the Euros?
There’s still doubt over the make-up of Gareth Southgate’s England midfield. For now, you’d probably say four men are nailed-on to go to the Euros in Germany: Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice, James Maddison, and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
That leaves a couple of spots up for grabs. Kalvin Phillips has played less than two-and-a-half games in terms of minutes this season. Jordan Henderson, while a Liverpool legend, does not face the same challenge as his counterparts every week in Saudi Arabia.
These two trusted lieutenants, the most Southgateian of midfield options, should surely be looking over their shoulders at the competition behind them.
And yes, there are other, more proven, options than Mainoo. Conor Gallagher, James Ward-Prowse, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Curtis Jones, and Harvey Elliott are, one would assume, higher in the pecking order.
But there’s something in Mainoo, and so much more to be seen. In the fleeting glimpses we’ve had, he’s knocked people’s socks off. Fans raved at the start of the month that he is the club’s ‘best midfielder’ when he bagged two assists against Salford City’s senior side for the Under 21s. That’s a stretch, but it shows how much he dazzles when people see him play.
He has demonstrated a calmness on the ball, a good range of passing, strong close control, and an ability to be in the right place at the right time defensively.
One reason to get excited is how quickly he has developed in such a short space of time. Mainoo, from Stockport, signed his first professional contract in May 2022, the same month that he starred in United’s FA Youth final win.
Former coaches describe Mainoo as ‘quiet and unassuming but the right character on the pitch’ as well as ‘an old head’ despite his tender years
Ten Hag rewarded him with his debut in January against Charlton Athletic in the Carabao Cup
In October of last year he was called up to senior training for the first time, making the bench against Newcastle, and he made his debut against Charlton in the Carabao in January, starting in a 3-0 win.
‘His strengths are close control, good awareness, body contact. He’s really good in both boxes, he’s combative. He’s got a nice blend of many skills,’ Travis Binnion, who managed Mainoo in United’s U21s Papa John’s Trophy matches last campaign, told The Athletic.
‘He’s been really consistent. With young players, they’re up, they’re down, and sometimes they get carried away with themselves. Then they get a reality check and struggle to deal with it.
‘The thing with Kobbie is that he comes into the club every day, he applies himself really well. He’s never too high, never too low. He’s got quite an old head on his shoulders.’
Neil Ryan, England’s U16s coach and formerly Mainoo’s coach with the national team’s U18s, said: ‘He’s a quiet and unassuming boy off the pitch but the right character on it, with regards to how he plays.
‘He’s a really good lad, respectful and a fantastic academy product in terms of how he behaves on and off the pitch. He has self-belief, he backs himself and he’s making good progress for his club and the national team.’
Now with England’s U19s, Mainoo’s progress has been startling. Last season, he was named United’s Young Player of the Year, an honour previously awarded to Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Phil Neville, and Marcus Rashford.
Mainoo made his mark with a stellar pre-season performance against Arsenal before being injured against Real Madrid
He signed his first pro deal in May 2022 but 18 months later is on the cusp of regular minutes
We’ve seen an experimental Southgate handing out debuts recently. Rico Lewis shone against North Macedonia, sweeping up the Man of the Match award, while Cole Palmer also impressed on his Three Lions debut against Malta.
The ethos is clear and the path is paved – if you’re a young player and you can impress Southgate, you’ve got a shot at a call-up. That’s all you can ask for at 18, even if the Euros is a step too far.
There’s still a long way for Mainoo to go with so many highs and lows still to negotiate. Doing it against relegation-threatened Everton is one thing, as is making an impression in pre-season, but performing week-in, week-out at the highest level is another kettle of fish. The jury is still very much out.
But at the moment, Mainoo has no negatives written into his ledger. The words scribbled next are down to him.
