Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane has been impressed by Kobbie Mainoo’s performance levels since emerging as a first-team player under Erik ten Hag this season. The Irishman waxed lyrical over the 18-year-old following Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool.
Mainoo continued his fine run in the team with a stunning finish against United’s fierce rivals. It was his first senior goal at Old Trafford and he left Caoimhin Kelleher with little to no chance of preventing his effort with a beautiful curled shot.
Sadly, the youngster’s strike was cancelled out by Mohamed Salah in the final 10 minutes as the two teams split the points. That means United are 11 points adrift of Aston Villa in the race for a Champions League spot.
Speaking on Sky Sports after the game, Keane said (via Manchester Evening News): “It’s a tough game for him [Mainoo], obviously he’s done well. It’s a very good Liverpool team. He’s still learning, still not there with the set pieces but he’s doing better.
“Scored one wonderful goal and it’s just now about how he copes with the expectations he’s had over the last few months with playing for England.
“[He] Seems like a really nice kid, got lots to learn and he’ll only get better from these experiences. Scored against Liverpool, I know he’s talking about not winning the game but you can see he’s delighted to have scored, even if it wasn’t the winner.”
It’s been an incredible breakthrough season for Mainoo on an individual note but the academy graduate will hope the team still has something to celebrate at the end of the campaign, with United taking on Coventry City in the FA Cup semi-finals in just two weeks.
The sky is the limit for Mainoo.
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