Roy Keane says Man Utd star does things it took him 10 years to learn
Roy Keane hailed England midfielder Kobbie Mainoo's precocious talent, stating that the teenager is "doing stuff that probably took me 10 years to learn."
Mainoo was hardly on the radar for England's Euro 2024 squad six months ago but the Manchester United starlet swiftly became the only name on any England fan and pundit's lips heading into Sunday's last-16 clash against Slovakia in Gelsenkirchen.
The teenager turned heads with his impressive displays for Erik ten Hag's United last campaign, helping the Red Devils to FA Cup final victory over Premier League champions and local rivals Manchester City.
Mainoo's performances earned him a call-up to Gareth Southgate's England squad for the summer's showpiece event and became a source of potential salvation for the Three Lions' midfield as he offered a rare bright light in an otherwise woeful group stage showing.
Mainoo played in a midfield trio with Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham in the second half against Slovenia and looked like one of his country's more impressive performers in the drab draw. And fellow United midfielder Keane was full of praise for the young star ahead of England's last-16 match on Sunday.
"You see the stuff he is doing, I played in that position, but he's doing stuff that probably took me 10 years to learn," he told ITV. "He's obviously had a great foundation at Man United and he's getting into good habits but we've seen in these big games - and when you're playing for Man United, every game is a big game for Man United, so he'll cope with all that."
Roy Keane was full of praise for Kobbie Mainoo
Southgate initially experimented with Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold slotted alongside Declan Rice in the centre of the park with Bellingham playing further forward, with haphazard results. Alexander-Arnold was duly hooked from the position and replaced with Conor Gallagher for England's final group stage match against Slovenia.
But Gallagher failed to provide the stability and cohesion alongside Rice that was needed, and Mainoo was subsequently called upon for the second half.
And the 19-year-old was so impressed in his energetic and mature cameo that Southgate called on the United star in his starting line-up for Sunday. Mainoo became the third-youngest player to start for England in a knockout match, joining esteemed company in Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen.
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