26 November 2023 , 21:34
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Manchester United legend Roy Keane has warned Red Devils fans against getting carried away with Kobbie Mainoo after the youngster played a starring role in the win over Everton.
Mainoo was handed his first ever Premier League start for the trip to Goodison Park on Sunday evening. He delivered an impressively mature performance in the engine room to help the visitors to a 3-0 win, extending their unbeaten run in the top-flight to three games.
The 18-year-old played a particularly important role in defence, clearing Dwight McNeil's shot off the line, before blocking another effort from the Toffees star moments later. United legend Gary Neville admitted he was close to naming Mainoo the man of the match.
But Keane, who is regarded as one of the Red Devils' best-ever midfielders, has warned against getting carried away, despite being full of praise for the youngster.
"Unbelievable. Listen, don't want to get too carried away but I'm sure we will. He looked like he always had time on the ball today. His decision making, in terms of when to go long, when to go short. Off the ball as well," Keane told Sky Sports.
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"What a phenomenal performance. Obviously, I know the club thinks highly of him. But then the build-up to the game today, coming to Everton, for the manager to put him in, he obviously must trust him and the staff around the place.
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Mainoo delivered an accomplished display in United's midfield (Getty Images)"Listen, good luck to the kid, he was outstanding. It's a great start for him. Let’s hope he stays injury free, he gets a run of game for Man United because he looked like a Man United type player today. Nice and brave, lot of courage, loved watching him.
"United are some way off the top teams. They seem happy with sixth, they should be competing with the best teams. They go to Newcastle next week, we’ll see what United turns up."
United boss Erik ten Hag also called for Mainoo to build on his impressive debut. The Dutchman insisted that the midfielder deserved his chance having endured a disrupted start to the season.
"He has a lot of ability. It was a really disappointing moment in pre-season when he got so badly injured for him but also for our team because I know he can progress a lot if he plays many such games like today," he said.
"I know players, young players especially, develop very quickly. We thought this was the moment to bring him in. We prepared him properly but he did a great job and now he has to build on this.
"We know we are in a transition period, still. We have to develop players but we can’t give them chances, you have to deserve it. He’s a good boy, he’s already very mature, that’s what he showed today – in and out of possession – he did his job very well."