{"id":296533,"date":"2023-11-29T06:24:06","date_gmt":"2023-11-29T06:24:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/?p=296533"},"modified":"2023-11-29T06:24:06","modified_gmt":"2023-11-29T06:24:06","slug":"man-utd-believe-kobbie-mainoo-may-change-position-with-opportunities-growing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/soccer\/man-utd-believe-kobbie-mainoo-may-change-position-with-opportunities-growing\/","title":{"rendered":"Man Utd believe Kobbie Mainoo may change position with opportunities growing"},"content":{"rendered":"

Man Utd picked up a huge win against Everton in the Premier League | Football Digest<\/h3>\n

Sensible voices urged caution and warned of the perils of loading too much pressure on young shoulders after Kobbie Mainoo\u2019s full debut for Manchester United on Sunday. But such is the regard in which the youngster is held at Old Trafford, those in positions of power have known for some time that his days in the shadows were numbered.<\/p>\n

Had it not been for a serious ankle injury sustained against Real Madrid in Houston in late July on the US tour, the cat would have been out of the bag long ago. A buzz has been following Mainoo for some time after the young midfielder has impressed at every step of his United journey since joining at the age of nine.<\/p>\n

Mainoo has long been flagged as one of the most exciting young talents to come out of their academy, last season being named Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year. Previous winners are Norman Whiteside, Mark Hughes, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood and Alejandro Garnacho.<\/p>\n

He was a pivotal member of the academy side which won the FA Youth Cup with United in 2022 and has always been a favourite of those who have worked with him at United down the years.<\/p>\n

And a thread which runs through all their praise suggests his family have always had a big role in keeping him grounded. United\u2019s Head of Academy Nick Cox said: “Kobbie has risen to every challenge that he has faced.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: <\/strong> Man Utd hero Garnacho shows class in heartwarming moment with young supporter[LATEST] <\/strong><\/p>\n

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\u201cHe has been at the club from a really young age and has always been an exciting talent but, importantly, he\u2019s shown the work rate and desire to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mainoo made his senior first-team debut in January, when Erik ten Hag selected him to start the 3-0 Carabao Cup quarter-final win against Charlton Athletic back in January last season. He went on to make two further first-XI appearances in that campaign, in the Emirates FA Cup against Reading, and then in the Premier League, coming on late in a 3-0 win over Leicester City in February.<\/p>\n

Fewer than 24 hours on from that debut against Charlton, Mainoo was in Staffordshire to support his Under-18 teammates as they faced Stoke in the Youth Cup before reporting for first-team training at Carrington early the following morning.<\/p>\n

Mainoo has been skilfully nurtured in his career by his father and a succession of coaches from Cheadle & Gatley Junior Football Club through Failsworth Dynamos and on to United.<\/p>\n

Mainoo played above his age grade throughout his time with Failsworth and did so again when joining United\u2019s academy aged nine. When he was at under 16 level at the club he was regularly playing U18 football \u2013 a sure sign of a decent talent.<\/p>\n