What a rise to the top it has been for Manchester United starlet Kobbie Mainoo. Although he is out injured at the moment, the Stockport-born midfield sensation has become a key player for his boyhood club so far, under both Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim.
He has already made an impressive number of first-team appearances in that famous Red shirt. Mainoo has featured 60 times for United so far, scoring six goals and grabbing two assists from midfield in that time.
The 19-year-old rose to superstardom last season when he made his first Premier League start against Everton and completely ran the show in midfield.
Mainoo’s debut vs Everton
There have been few midfielders players, particularly ones aged just 18, who have made a bigger impression than Mainoo on their first Premier League start. He was thrust into the United midfield after months out injured, and just two appearances for the academy to regain full fitness.
United fan, analyst, and host of The Overlap: The Breakdown, H, summed up the Englishman’s performance that day. He described the youngster as “elegant” and “relaxed”, calling it a “seriously good performance” on his full debut.
The youngster was so composed that day, showing his impressive ability to carry through the opposition’s press and how hard he worked off the ball. It was an eye-catching and dominant showing from someone who was, in reality, quite inexperienced.
The stats on Sofascore from Mainoo’s full debut show just how well he played. The United number 37 had 61 touches of the ball, completing 83% of his passes. Off the ball, he won an impressive five from eight duels.
Sadly, given his injury, Amorim will not have the option of calling upon Mainoo for United’s trip to Goodison Park this weekend. However, he could make the bold decision of starting another exciting young midfielder who could have a similar rise to the top in a United shirt.
The academy midfielder who could start vs. Everton
Amorim had to call upon several young academy stars last weekend against Tottenham Hotspur, due to United’s injury crisis. Only one of those, Chido Obi, got the chance to feature, but there were several exciting talents on the bench.
One of those youngsters was Sekou Kone. The 19-year-old Malian midfielder joined the club over the summer, in a deal that was reportedly worth £1m. United beat Premier League rivals Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers to the signing.
So far, Kone has not had much of a chance to showcase his ability. Injuries have affected him this term, meaning he has played just six times for the Red Devils academy. However, he is clearly rated highly enough for Amorim to include him on the bench last weekend.
Kone really made waves at the under-17 World Cup for Mali at the end of 2023. He helped his side to a third-place finish, beating Argentina in the third-place playoff match. His stats from the game were extraordinary. As per Sofascore, he won 15 out of 20 duels, created three chances, and registered an assist.
Stat
Number
Touches
62
Pass accuracy
83%
Passes completed
34/41
Duels won
15/20
Tackles won
6/7
Long balls completed
6/6
Dribbles completed
5/6
Chances created
3
Assists
1
With that in mind, it is perhaps unsurprising that football scout Antonio Mango thinks Kone could “be a beast”. He ran the midfield in the under-17 World Cup, and perhaps he deserves the chance against Everton, to show what he can do in senior football.
One man who Kone could replace in the middle of the park is Casemiro. The experienced Brazilian made his first start of 2025 against Spurs but struggled to impose himself on the game, with the opposition coasting around him at times.
He received a 4/10 post-match rating from The Manchester Evening News’ Samuel Luckhurst. The United writer said the former Real Madrid star looked “constantly off the pace” against the Lilywhites.
Perhaps taking a punt on Kone is a risk worth taking for Amorim. Casemiro struggled and seems destined to leave the club, with reports at the end of January hinting at a move away from Old Trafford.
The Malian would be an investment to the future, and Goodison Park seems to be the place talented young midfielders break into the United first-team. Perhaps Kone could become the second coming of Mainoo in that sense.
