Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo slotted seamlessly into the team on his first appearance of 2023/24.
Back in January, Erik ten Hag gave Kobbie Mainoo his first start. Three substitute appearances came in between, and a handful of pre-season appearances, but injuries have delayed his progress.
Now, three months and change into the season, Mainoo finally made his second competitive start for Manchester United. It went well.
Mainoo looked like it was his 200th start and not his second, anchoring the midfield with the experience of a multi-million pound player.
Kobbie Mainoo efforts highlighted
Kobbie Mainoo is Manchester United’s best kept secret. The hype has been gradually building, slowed by his injuries, but now, there is proof that he is not just a pre-season star – but he is the real deal.
This came as no surprise in the MUTV studio. Kobbie Mainoo’s talent is well known to all connected with the club.
Former star Wes Brown spoke to the channel’s Matchday Review, and had positive words about the youngster’s contribution in the 3-0 win over Everton.
He said: “I like him, and he’s shown a bit of everything he can do. Taking the ball, as a young kid he wants the ball all the time, he’s very comfortable.
“His reactions are very good, his goal-line save. He’s obviously not 100 per cent match fit, but he’s shown the manager he’s ready, to get on with it. I’m very happy he’s back.”
Mainoo completed 71 minutes, enough to convince fans they have seen a future superstar.
Pallister praises finely judged stop
Kobbie Mainoo was graceful on the ball, and alert off it. The 18-year-old provided Manchester United’s biggest defensive moment, when, in the first half, he cleared the ball off the line when Everton seemed destined to equalise.
Wes Brown mentioned it, speaking about his reaction time, and co-pundit Gary Pallister also commended the teenager’s fine judgment.
Pallister told MUTV: “A split second later and he’s going to knock it in back of the net. He’s done his defensive duties well.”