Wes Brown has challenged Kobbie Mainoo to mix it with first-team players at Manchester United after scoring on his mid-season friendly appearance vs Spanish opponents Cadiz.
With the domestic schedule currently on hold, Erik ten Hag and a mixed group have jetted over to Spain for warm-weather training and two games while other players are on World Cup duty. Their programme started with a defeat to Cadiz as Anthony Martial and Mainoo netted in a high-scoring contest on Wednesday night.
It was a moment to savour for 17-year-old Academy product Mainoo, though, as he picked up the ball soon after his introduction at half-time and deflected an effort past the Cadiz goalkeeper. Ten Hag brought the Stockport-born frontman on with nine other changes at the interval.
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MEN Sport understands United have received numerous initial inquiries about the availability of their best young players ahead of the January transfer window and clubs have registered an interest in taking Mainoo until the end of the season, though sources admit it is less likely he will leave the club just yet. And following the defeat to Cadiz, Brown spoke about Mainoo's impact during the match and challenged the youngster to make Erik ten Hag 'recognise' him.
Speaking on the MUTV panel, Brown said: "You never know. People take different paths. Some people go on loan, can they do it there?
"Can you make the manager recognise you that way? Ultimately for the better players, the manager usually keeps hold of them and with the first-team squad and eventually gets you in training with them.
"Hopefully he's one of them who gets his chance. He's still learning and we hope to see more from him, but there's always the question of do they let him go out on loan or do they keep hold of him and put him straight in with the lads to see if he can compete with them."
Analysing his goal, former United player Brown added: "He started off this second half really well. It was quick play and they didn't get out to him. Quick feet, good turn and he's got a shot on target.
"You can see he wants to turn and he's looking where the goal is. Well deserved from him."
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