Mainoo now one of United’s most important players in midfield (Picture: Getty)
Roy Keane says Kobbie Mainoo reminds him of another former Manchester United midfielder in Nicky Butt.
Mainoo, 18, has enjoyed a remarkable rise to prominence since making his first starting appearance for the club against Everton.
The teenager has become a mainstay in Erik ten Hag’s midfield, turning in another superb performance in the FA Cup quarter-final victory over Liverpool and earning an England call-up this week.
He has become the latest United academy graduate to break into the first-team at Old Trafford, with his calming presence in midfield and passing ability drawing comparisons with United legend Paul Scholes.
Former United captain Keane however believes comparisons can also be made with Butt, who broke into the starting XI around the same time as Scholes, just after Keane’s arrival at the club from Nottingham Forest.
‘I’d say that Kobbie Mainoo compares more to Nicky Butt than Paul Scholes, but that’s because Scholes played further forward when he first joined Manchester United,’ Keane told Stick to Football.
‘What makes these young players successful is their personalities and their temperament, so I would put Mainoo on par with Butt and Scholes in their first three months at the club.
Mainoo was called into the England squad this week (Picture: Getty)
‘It’s all about how players settle into the first team and how they cope with the challenges, playing at Old Trafford, but from what I’ve seen, Mainoo looks great, but he’s got lots to learn in that position.’
Mainoo was initially left out of the England squad last week with Gareth Southgate suggesting he had not played enough first-team games to warrant a place.
The teenager is now in contention to make his debut in Saturday’s friendly against Brazil or next week against Belgium and continue making his case for a place in the Euro 2024 squad.
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‘The timing could be right, he’s lucky [Mainoo] in terms of the timing. Because obviously Kalvin Phillips is having a difficult time, Jordan Henderson is getting a bit older,’ Keane continued.
‘So maybe that timing, and the best thing is when you get a player into your camp as you know in international football, ok he’s done well at Manchester United, but to look at him closely, with the other international players, we’ve all done it.
‘Like when Wayne Rooney came through, and when you get to see him up close you go, ‘I like what I see.’ And it could happen.’
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