Whereas Manchester United’s latest Carabao Cup triumph has indicated that new boss Erik ten Hag is primarily involved with main the membership to short-term success, the Dutchman has additionally proven his want to look forward in his time at Outdated Trafford to this point, having already set his religion within the membership’s promising youth merchandise.
The obvious breakout star to this point this season has been Alejandro Garnacho – with the 18-year-old making eight assists in 28 appearances in all competitions – though the Argentine is just not alone in forcing his method into the first-team image, as {the teenager} Kobbie Mainoo has additionally been given an opportunity to shine of late.
Though the 17-year-old has solely made three senior outings to this point, these transient contests are a mark of how a lot he cares about these on the membership, and it’s undoubtedly uncommon to see a participant of his age make an impression. for an elite membership.
Though the Englishman was not given a spot within the matchday squad for Sunday’s win at Wembley, the teen nonetheless seemed to be on the thoughts of Ten Hag, with the previous Ajax boss searching for his new star for a chat amid the continuing celebration.
Whereas it’s not clear what the 53-year-old mentioned to the promising midfielder, it maybe represents that he’s seen as a determine who may proceed to be an vital a part of the membership’s success within the years to return, with the Crimson Devils’ conveyor belt of younger expertise continues to show fruitful.
Journalist Pete O’Rourke – talking Soccer Fancast – genuinely believes Mainoo’s emergence is an actual constructive for the Premier League aspect, having mentioned:
“So sure, it is clearly spectacular for Manchester United, the gamers coming by the academy like Garnacho and Mainoo.
“So it could possibly solely be good for the membership who’ve had a protracted historical past of manufacturing their very own gamers that these gamers come and you already know, make inroads into the primary staff.”
Might Kobbie Mainoo be Man Utd’s very personal Jude Bellingham?
The purpose now can be for the teenage sensation to cement an everyday position within the aspect going ahead, with Mainoo doubtless hoping to show himself because the long-term resolution in the course of the park, with the likes of Christian Eriksen, Fred and Casemiro all in and round their thirties.
The most recent suggestion has been that the membership are eager to land one other thrilling English expertise within the type of Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham – having beforehand missed out on the 19-year-old’s signature in 2020 – albeit with rivals Liverpool additionally firmly within the combine for the participant’s signature.
Even when United are to fend off the Merseysiders of their pursuit of the previous Birmingham Metropolis gem, any deal is more likely to value as a lot as €150m (£131m), therefore the potential want to keep away from splashing the money by turning to Mainoo as a substitute .
Like Bellingham – who can function as each a defensive-minded midfield asset or in a extra inventive berth – the England Below-18 worldwide additionally has the power and flexibility to function throughout midfield, with youth coach Travis Binnion saying earlier this yr:
“Over the previous couple of weeks we have seen him play as a 6, 8 and 10, and it exhibits that he is developed a very good soccer mind and athleticism to play all around the subject and play in several roles and methods. He is progressing properly.
“His strengths are shut management, good consciousness, physique contact. He is actually good in each bins, he is combative. He has a pleasant mixture of many expertise. He has skilled with the primary staff and carried out properly. He is been actually constant.
“With younger gamers, they’re up, they’re down, and typically they get carried away. Then they get a actuality verify and wrestle to cope with it. The factor about Kobbie is he comes into the membership day by day, he actually applies himself good. He is by no means too tall, by no means too brief. He is obtained a fairly previous head on his shoulders.”
As Binnion famous within the last line, Mainoo’s maturity has been central to his spectacular rise by the age teams of late, with the FA Youth Cup winner showing to share such a trait with the aforementioned Bellingham, because the Dortmund star has already emerged as a “chief” in Germany, based on teammate Mats Hummels.
That mentality ought to make sure the Stockport-born ace can replicate his compatriot in thriving on the prime degree at such a younger age, with Bellingham already scoring 20 objectives and offering 24 assists in 120 appearances for the Bundesliga aspect to this point, regardless of nonetheless being in his teenagers .
The latter man’s instance ought to present Ten Hag that taking an opportunity on a younger man can show worthwhile, with Mainoo probably in a position to replicate the Three Lions machine by turning into a number one determine regardless of his relative youth.
