Teenage phenom Kobbie Mainoo is quickly becoming a fan-favorite player for both Manchester United and the England national team. The midfielder essentially burst onto the scene as a relatively unknown 18-year-old prospect just a few months ago. He grabbed his official Premier League debut in February of 2023, but an ankle injury kept him on the sidelines at the start of the current campaign.
After recovering from the setback, Mainoo made his first club appearance of the 2023/24 season in November. While United struggled around this time, the Red Devils thumped Everton 3-0 in the youngster’s first start of the campaign. The English giants have continued to have inconsistency issues, but Mainoo has been one of the few bright spots in the team.
Manager Erik ten Hag has relied on the teen as one of his key players in recent months. The Dutch coach likely did not expect the youngster to become a regular starter at the start of the season. Nevertheless, Mainoo has been tasked with starting some significant matches since December. This includes league fixtures against Liverpool, Manchester City, and Tottenham Hotspur, as well as the recent epic FA Cup quarterfinal against the rival Reds.
Teen is already being compared to previous greats in midfield
The boost in form has earned Mainoo a spot in the England national team squad. Three Lions manager Gareth Southgate even opted to play the midfielder in both of their most recent matches. The teen made his full senior England debut against Brazil earlier this month before then starting a game against Belgium. These two national teams are currently ranked in the top five in the world by FIFA.
Much like Manchester United, England also struggled in these recent games. Mainoo, however, was certainly not the problem. The Three Lions looked shaky in defense, but the teen midfielder was one of the standout players in the entire team.
Due to the impressive display, English media members have since compared…
Source link : https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/kobbie-mainoo-is-becoming-undroppable-for-united-and-england
Author : Chris Moore
Publish date : 2024-03-27 18:29:21
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