English-born player of Ghanaian descent, Kobbie Mainoo has been honored with the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award at Manchester United.
Despite facing an unfortunate injury that sidelined him for the last two months of the season, the 18-year-old had an impressive campaign that included making his debut for the first team under coach Erik ten Hag.
Mainoo, a versatile midfielder, showcased his abilities across various positions, including the number 8 role where he excelled in picking up the ball from deep and driving forward with his quick change of pace and dribbling skills.
While he displayed defensive prowess, his standout quality is his exceptional awareness in possession, consistently finding open spaces in midfield and creating angles to advance the ball.
Although not known for flashy passing, Mainoo's preference for short and quick passes to open up the pitch demonstrates his tactical intelligence. Furthermore, his physically imposing stature, despite his young age, was evident in a commanding performance against Carlisle United early in the season, highlighting his readiness for senior football.
While Mainoo primarily featured for the under-21s team, where he contributed with two goals and two assists in 19 appearances, his limited first-team minutes and injury prevented him from further involvement in the latter stages of the season.
Nonetheless, his potential and overall performances earned him recognition as the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year.
