01 November 2023 , 13:21
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Highly-rated Manchester United youngster Kobbie Mainoo made an eye-catching return from injury in the EFL Trophy for the club's Under-21 side on Tuesday night.
Mainoo, 18, made a big impression during pre-season and was heavily fancied to be in and around Erik ten Hag's first-team plans before he sustained an ankle injury during a clash with Real Madrid just weeks before the new Premier League campaign.
The United academy graduate was back in training at the start of October after months on the sidelines - and he stole the show after making his official return to action against League Two outfit Salford City in the EFL Trophy at the Peninsula Stadium, bagging two assists in United's narrow 4-3 reverse.
Mainoo was handed his senior debut by Ten Hag during a Carabao Cup win over Charlton last term and is widely regarded as one of the club's most exciting prospects.
The talented midfielder was even likened to former academy graduate Paul Pogba by Anthony Elanga earlier this week when the forward was asked to predict who would be the club's next big homegrown star.
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Elanga, who left Old Trafford to join Nottingham Forest in the summer, replied: “Kobbie Mainoo. He is one of my close guys that I still speak to at United and I believe he is next the top one, his talent is unreal. He has got everything and I just hope United can look after him really well and let him flourish. He is a top player.
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Manchester United youngster Kobbie Mainoo impressed on his return from injury in midweek (Manchester United via Getty Imag)“When I played with him in the academy I always thought he had similar attributes to Paul Pogba. They are not the same player but just the way he moves and they can both do everything, defensive, offensive, he has a mixture of everything and is really good on and off the ball.”
Ten Hag has already made it clear that the talented teenager will get first-team opportunities after being asked about his progress a fortnight ago. The Dutchman said of Mainoo: "He is close. He i already training with us. Not today but I think, next week, he will have some minutes in the team. So then he can catch up his game minutes. So he is really improving and ready to get back in the squad for games."
While Mainoo is unlikely to feature for United in Wednesday night's Carabao Cup clash against Newcastle, the England youth international could be named in the squad which will travel to London to face Fulham at the weekend.