Sky Sports tells the story of Kobbie Mainoos journey into the heart of Man Utd and Englands midfields in the next instalment of our Next Up series.
Kobbie Mainoo's footballing talent is now clear to us all. What the 19-year-old has also proved over the course of this season is his elite sense of timing. A nose for the big occasion.
"We used to have to say to him, ‘you can only score with your weaker foot’, ‘you can only have two touches of the ball’, or, ‘you can't score, you have to pass to a team-mate'.To anyone who witnessed the dramatic winner against Wolves in February, Mainoo's ability to beat several opponents before calmly producing a finish from the edge of the area in the dying minutes of the game may have raised eyebrows. But Vare had seen something similar over a decade previously.
But of the thousands of kids that spend time at a club of United's size, only a handful will possess the talent, drive and fortune to make it as professional footballers. Even fewer still will progress to the United first team. Not that Mainoo had been dominating the midfield from an early age."As a youngster, he was a centre-forward and scored a lot of goals," revealed Cox.
But Mainoo's ability to make a name for himself was in evidence back in 2017, when he scored the winning goal as Shots claimed the North West Junior Champions League - a competition Newton said he had been trying to win for a decade.It's not just Mainoo's technical abilities that were immediately obvious to the coaches that helped guide him during his childhood. Time and again, it's Mainoo's calm temperament that those who worked with him remember.
Yet the cool, calm and composed Mainoo still had some improvements to make in the eyes of Erik ten Hag. The manager felt he was possibly a little too laid back."I thought he was playing a little bit too comfortable in the U21s. He should be much more dominant."
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Next Up: How Kobbie Mainoo became Manchester United's main manSky Sports tells the story of Kobbie Mainoos journey into the heart of Man Utd and Englands midfields in the next instalment of our Next Up series.
Read more »
Man Utd legends all knew Kobbie Mainoo was destined for greatnessManchester United Academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo has received plenty of praise since his first-team debut - but one game was the initial key to impressing his elders.
Read more »
Man United in advanced Kobbie Mainoo talks after ‘huge’ offerThe inside track on the football stories that matter
Read more »
Kobbie Mainoo sent message by Henderson after United ace takes Euros squad spotKobbie Mainoo enjoyed a fine debut season at Manchester United and will now hope to transfer that form to the international stage after being named in the England squad
Read more »
Man Utd have earmarked two more wonderkids for first-team roles after Kobbie Mainoo successMan Utd are hoping the two youngsters will follow in Kobbie Mainoo's footsteps.
Read more »
Kobbie Mainoo sends message to Burnley FC starlet after 'devastating' diagnosisJake Last was Burnley under 14s goalkeeper before being diagnosed with bone cancer
Read more »