This time final 12 months, Kobbie Mainoo would have been getting back from his vacation and making ready for an additional 12 months of improvement within the Manchester United academy.
This summer season, he has jetted off to the United States with the primary workforce and it’s no goodwill gesture. Erik ten Hag has all the time underlined that every participant should earn their minutes and place within the squad.
Mainoo has made simply three senior appearances however has performed sufficient to persuade his supervisor that he might be of service to the primary workforce subsequent season. The 18-year-old made his debut in January’s League Cup match towards Charlton earlier than signing a new long-term deal just a few weeks later.
The teenager has impressed in each pleasant appearances to date this summer season, particularly within the 2-0 win over Leeds in Oslo. His agility, power and nous have gotten United followers excited.
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An identical buzz surrounded Alejandro Garnacho final 12 months. The Argentina worldwide didn’t characteristic throughout United’s 2022/23 pre-season tour attributable to disciplinary causes however he caught the attention in a behind-closed-doors pleasant with Wrexham and towards Rayo Vallecano.
He earned his full debut in October and had two senior objectives by Christmas. He ended the season with 10 aim contributions and a recent five-year deal, with a new shirt quantity seemingly on the best way.
Garnacho has been informed by Ten Hag that his subsequent mission is to turn out to be a daily starter after beginning simply 11 of his 34 outings final season. That could possibly be a tricky job with Marcus Rashford occupying the left flank and Mainoo would have an identical mountain to climb.
Mainoo can play as each an attacking and a central midfield, which means he must attempt to ease previous Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, Mason Mount, Fred and Scott McTominay for minutes, and probably one other new signing.
It’s a tricky outlook however Mainoo can take inspiration from Garnacho. Last season, he had Rashford and Jadon Sancho forward of him within the pecking order and managed to chalk up greater than 30 outings.
It’s doubtless that Ten Hag will take an identical strategy with Mainoo, with the teenager turning into a daily squad member who will largely be used from the bench with the odd begin. United have needed to stability out what can be finest for {the teenager} subsequent season.
A mortgage might have been secured however Ten Hag feels he would develop extra as a part of the senior squad by being across the set-up long-term. Fred is anticipated to be on the transfer this summer season with MEN Sport revealing Fulham have an interest whereas McTominay might additionally transfer on.
Mainoo’s job for the tour is to persuade his boss that he might be an ample filler if both does go away, or higher nonetheless that he can problem the Dutchman’s first-choice midfielders for minutes on the pitch. He can take to the sector realizing he has the arrogance of his supervisor, which counts for lots.
Throughout the season, then, he should repay that belief when known as upon. Garnacho did that in spades, though Ten Hag additionally gave him time.
He will do the identical for Mainoo. If he follows the identical trajectory as Garnacho, Ten Hag may have two academy graduates who he has helped progress by the ranks earlier than doubtlessly turning into key cogs in his rebuild mission.
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