Rewind a few months and not many Manchester United fans would have known the name Kobbie Mainoo. Now he is established as one of the club’s rising stars.
At the start of the season most supporters knowledgeable about the United academy would have name-checked Zidane Iqbal, Charlie Savage and Charlie McNeill as the next cabs off the rank at Carrington. But just over midway through the season it is Mainoo who has surpassed them all.
Iqbal has not made an appearance for the first team this season. Savage has been sent out on loan to League One strugglers Forest Green Rovers. And McNeill is spending time learning the game in League Two with Newport County. A lot can change in the space of a few months.
Youth football is unpredictable and things could change yet again. But for now it is Mainoo who has Erik ten Hag’s attention.
On Thursday, the 17-year-old midfielder signed a new long-term contract with the club, which is understood to be four years with the option of a further 12 months. To mark the occasion he posed for pictures with Ten Hag and United’s head of academy, Nick Cox.
The momentous career landmark for the youngster followed another two in January. First, he made his debut in a 3-0 win over Charlton in the Carabao Cup. Secondly, he made an impact off the bench in a 3-1 victory against Reading in the FA Cup.
They were surreal experiences for Mainoo, who grew up in nearby Stockport and joined the club as a nine-year-old, but not ones he was overawed by. “I’ve been in training with the lads quite a few times. They all made me feel welcome and all gave me words of advice and encouragement. So I felt at home,” he said after his debut.
“To be able to follow Casemiro closely and watch him in training is an honour and for him to come on for me is crazy. I looked at the teamsheet and I was starting. I was a bit shocked but I had to do my job. Yeah, there were some butterflies, but it was more exciting.”
His reaction to finding out he was playing for United at Old Trafford tallies with the testimony of his coaches. Speaking to The Athletic in November after he was named on the bench against Newcastle, United youth coach Travis Binnion said: “With young players, they’re up, they’re down, and sometimes they get carried away with themselves. Then they get a reality check and struggle to deal with it.
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“The thing with Kobbie is that he comes into the club every day, he applies himself really well. He’s never too high, never too low. He’s got quite an old head on his shoulders.”
Mainoo’s attitude appears to be the attribute that has made him stand out from the crowd at Carrington. The World Cup break gave Ten Hag a chance to work closely with the club’s youngsters and he rewarded Mainoo against Charlton.
He said: “For him it's a great opportunity, he did very well during the winter camp in Spain. He also did very well against Everton in a friendly. He deserved to play, so I'm happy to give him the opportunity. It's about deserving it.”
Mainoo was an unused substitute for the 2-2 draw against Leeds on Wednesday night, but more opportunities could be on the way, with Casemiro facing another two games out through suspension and Christian Eriksen a long-term injury absentee.
He has outshone the competition and could be set for an even brighter future.
