'He looked like a Man City player' - Pep Guardiola 'will want Kobbie Mainoo in his midfield' after dazzling display at Everton, claims Man Utd legend Gary Neville

The United legend was left impressed by Mainoo's performance against Everton as he played 72 minutes at Goodison Park. He also received praise from club captain Bruno Fernandes, who claimed on BBC Match of the Day that the teenager should have received the Man of the Match award instead of Alejandro Garnacho.

Neville further suggested that by the first look at his style, Mainoo seems like a player who would fit in well at Manchester City and that Guardiola would love to have him in his midfield.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Neville said: "It was impressive and there’s no point getting carried away by it because the reality is he’s got 17 or 18 years in front of him and he’s got a lot of work to do. But sometimes when you see a player come in for the first time and the way in which the temperament, he’s obviously got technical ability and skill, you don’t play for Manchester United in the first place if you haven’t got that, you don’t get picked by Erik ten Hag if you haven’t got that, but what you don’t know is how they’re going to handle it.

"He’s gone in here at Goodison Park, in what could have been the most ferocious atmospheres for many a year in a hostile environment, and he looked class. We know he’s class, we know he’s got class, he’s got that ability, but he looked class in that environment. I always judge players when it’s the most difficult part of the game. When Manchester United had their most difficult period in that first half just before half time for 20 minutes I thought he was the only player who showed up, the only player who still looked like himself."

Further complimenting the youngster, the former England international said: "The biggest compliment I can pay him, and it hurts to say this, I hope people can take this in the right spirit… he looked like a Manchester City player. Honestly, I was watching him and thinking, ‘that’s a player that Pep Guardiola will be looking at and thinking, ‘I want him in my midfield, that’s what my midfield players do’.

"Thankfully Man United have got him because he looks so composed, so graceful, always looking over his shoulder, knowing where everyone is, letting it run across his body. At 18 to be doing that out there, he’ll have tougher games, he’s got a long challenge in front of him, there’ll be injuries, ups and downs, there will be other players coming in, he’s playing at a club with huge demands. But that was very, very good."

With an impressive outing against the Toffees, Mainoo will now aim to feature in Erik ten Hag's starting lineup more often. The Red Devils next face Galatasaray in a crucial Champions League encounter on Wednesday.