Kobbie Mainoo Delivers When Manchester United Needed Him Most

With Manchester United looking frail in the midfield area due to injuries, going up against a buoyed Everton at Goodison Park was never going to be an easy test.

Casemiro, Christian Eriksen and Mason Mount are all due to spend a lengthy period of time on the treatment table, which added to Erik Ten Hag’s injury woes that continue to add up.

The Dutch manager decided to take a mitigated risk in starting Kobbie Mainoo. The young, academy graduate had shown his promise for Manchester United during pre-season, but unfortunately picked up an injury that saw him ruled out for several months.

Manchester United have been working with Mainoo to make sure that he is not rushed back and have taken the steps necessary with the youth team to get him up to speed.

It was decided by Ten Hag that Mainoo would be given his full Premier
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League debut against Everton at Goodison Park, which has always been a testing fixture for the Red Devils.

And, yet, not swayed by the hostile atmosphere or the recent negativity surrounding the club, Mainoo stepped up when it mattered and delivered for his team. At just 18 years of age, the England youth international displayed his composure, intelligence and dynamism all in the space of the first 20 minutes.

Arguably Manchester United’s biggest problem this season has been the lack of a structured midfield. At too many times have they been caught out by the opposition and cut through the middle like a hot knife through butter.

Casemiro has been under heavy scrutiny for his lackadaisical approach to zonal marking, leaving his post in front of the defence and not being energetic enough to retreat and thwart any danger.

But as seen by Mainoo’s stellar debut, he was incredibly disciplined in protecting his back four. Actively going and searching for the ball off his central defenders, Mainoo looked totally confident in his own abilities to not be trapped on the ball and lose possession.

Everton tried to press him and recover the ball to launch an attack of their own, but Mainoo’s spatial awareness and intelligence beyond his years repeatedly got the better of any onrushing traffic.

There will be a point where Manchester United need to decide whether Mainoo will become the club’s long-term number six, or to play him slightly higher up in the box to box role to influence the final third.

But, for now, the Red Devils need a calm head in front of their defence and one that does not overcomplicate play. Mainoo does just that. He knows when to take players on and skirt out of trouble, but he also knows when to play the simple pass and retain possession.

For Manchester United who have so desperately struggled in maintaining possession and building phases, Mainoo is the perfect player to receive the ball off of the defence and allow him to dictate the tempo.

It should not have been left to an 18 year old to pick up the midfield pieces, but Mainoo has certainly done just that after his Premier League debut.