Yaya Toure was one of the best midfielders of his generation (Photo: Getty)
Manchester United youth coach Tom Huddlestone has likened one of the club’s brightest stars to Manchester City legend Yaya Toure.
Huddlestone joined United in 2022 as a player-coach for its U21 side, so has seen first-hand the next batch of young stars coming through the Carrington academy.
One player above all stood out to the former Tottenham, Derby and Hull star, and he’s one that’s already broken into Erik ten Hag’s first XI.
‘On my first day at Carrington, I came up and had a look at the lads in training,’ Huddlestone told Sport Bible.
‘I was speaking to a friend on the way back home and said [to them], “there are two lads who stood out during that session and one of them is a player called Kobbie Mainoo. He looks like a younger version of Yaya Toure”.
18-year-old Mainoo made his senior debut last season and has now firmly established himself in the first-team thanks to his tenacious performances in the heart of midfield.
His form means he is in line to play in his first Manchester derby on Sunday and some have even tipped him to be included in the England squad for this summer’s Euro 2024.
Kobbie Mainoo has made quite the impression for Man Utd this season (Photo: Getty)
‘To do what he’s doing as an 18-year-old, at a club of this size, is some going,’ Huddlestone added.
‘It looks like he’s been doing it for years. He’s as composed as anyone I’ve ever seen and that comes from self-confidence in your touch, your manipulation of the ball and your passing ability.’
The other player that stood out to Huddlestone early on was Omari Forson, who recently made his full debut for United in the place of the injured Rasmus Hojlund.
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United fans will certainly be hoping Mainoo can go onto to emulate the career of someone like Toure, with the City legend considered one of the best midfielders of his generation.
The former Ivory Coast international, who also starred for Barcelona, scored 79 goals and made 49 assists in 316 appearances for the Citizens.
Over an eight-year spell at the Etihad he won three Premier League titles, the FA Cup and two League Cups.
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