Man Utd wonderkid Kobbie Mainoo compared to legendary midfielders Xavi, Paul Scholes & Sergio Busquets as ex-Red Devils star predicts England new boy will become one of Premier League's best ever

Mainoo, 18, is having a stunning breakthrough season with United after making his first Premier League start in November. He has quickly become a regular in Erik ten Hag's side and has been called up to the England squad for the first time, with him likely to make his debut against Brazil on Saturday or Belgium on Tuesday in upcoming warm-up friendlies prior to Euro 2024. And Saha believes Mainoo can become one of the best midfielders in the world.

Saha told Bet Fred: "On the ball, he's got a bit of a mix of Xavi [Hernández] and Sergio Busquets about him when he goes forward, but he doesn’t necessarily have the body of a Marouane Fellaini or Paul Pogba. Kobbie has shown that he can play well consistently and people can play around him, so it’s very good to have a player of his talent and he’s capable of playing under pressure and providing the wingers with the opportunity to compete in one-on-one situations. Hopefully he can continue to improve over the next few years."

Saha also says he sees traits of legendary United midfielder Paul Scholes in Mainoo. “In the last few years of his career, Paul Scholes was able to drop deeper into the midfield and go forward less because he was smart enough to be in the right areas at the right time. Kobbie has that same positional awareness. He’s very aware of where his teammates are and he doesn’t panic, so these are great qualities to have at his age.

"To provide this kind of reassurance to the manager is great and that’s why I think he’s playing regularly because he’s very composed and he’s improving game to game. I think Kobbie playing in defensive midfield when Casemiro isn’t there is possible as he’s capable of adapting."

If Mainoo plays against Brazil on Saturday, he will become the third youngest United player to make his England debut, overtaking Mason Greenwood. Duncan Edwards remains the youngest Red Devils' player to turn out for the Three Lions, making his debut against Scotland in 1955 aged 18 years and 183 days.

Mainoo has joined United team-mates Harry Maguire and Marcus Rashford in the England squad and if he does not get on the pitch against Brazil he will have another chance to make his debut against Belgium on Tuesday. United return to Premier League action on March 30 at home to Brentford.