Kobbie Mainoo is 'obsessed by football'! Man Utd academy director gives unique insight into midfielder's rapid rise to first-team fame under Erik ten Hag

In a heartwarming gesture, the teenage midfielder returned to his roots to attend an Under-8s training session at Carrington demonstrating his humility and commitment to the club's ethos of youth development. Mainoo's journey to prominence began with his senior debut in the 2022/23 season, where he made three appearances. However, it was in November of the current campaign that he truly cemented his place in Erik ten Hag’s plans, becoming a vital component of the team's midfield, making 12 league appearances since then.

Reflecting on Mainoo's dedication to football, Nick Cox, academy director of United said: “He wants to be here. He is who he is because he's obsessed by football and he's obsessed with the ball. So, you know, when he got on the pitch with the little kids, he was playing just like he was in this same room in this same indoor arena just a few years ago. So it was brilliant to see. And in terms of trips down memory lane, he and I were just looking through some pictures. So six years ago to the day, we were in Boston, America, where he played in a little tournament.

"I'm flicking through the pictures and he's having snowball fights, and we were at the cinema and we've been to see the New England Patriots play. And so even considering what he's gone on to achieve, he's still looking back on that with fond memories. Him hanging out with his mates through football, doing some cool stuff and having an amazing time.”

Mainoo has often been hailed for his composure in midfield and Cox revealed that the teenager has been a "cool customer" since his early blooming days.

"All the way through the journey, he's been exactly as you've witnessed this morning," he said.

"In love with the game, a really cool customer, grounded, respectful, focused and a delightful young man really. And I think that showed through in the way that he's interacted with the young players today. But that's been him all the way through. And I would suggest that is probably a big reason for the success he's having at the moment as well.”

Not only Mainoo, but Ten Hag's side also boasts of having several homegrown players in Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Rashford and Scott McTominay - who are shining bright at Old Trafford. Cox is elated with their success and said: "Yeah a huge amount of pride because we're watching Kobbie do brilliantly. We've seen game-changing moments from Scott, we've seen moments from Alejandro Garnacho. We’ve seen Marcus playing well, so that kind of excites everybody. On a Monday morning at the Academy, people are arriving talking about what the boys have achieved at the weekend, not just the ones in our team, but we've seen boys up and down the leagues this weekend do wonderful stuff. And the staff that have worked with those players from as young as the boys we've seen from that age, you can only be excited and delighted by what young people are achieving.”

Ten Hag will be relying on the academy stars to produce the goods when United will be in action against Nottingham Forest on Wednesday in an FA Cup fifth-round clash. It will be followed by a crucial Manchester derby against City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.