Kobbie Mainoo told by former coach when he will reach 'another level' for Manchester United

Neil Wood spent three years in charge of Man Utd's Under-21s and he's now discussed the development of Kobbie Mainoo.

Former Manchester United academy coach Neil Wood believes Kobbie Mainoo will take his game to the next level when his confidence in playing senior football grows.

Mainoo was part of the FA Youth Cup winning side in the academy during the 2021/22 season and he's now part of the first-team squad after forcing himself into Erik ten Hag's plans.

The youngster is regarded as an exceptional prospect and he's one of the first names on the team sheet for many fans. Mainoo has started the last six games for United and he tends to play a deeper midfield role, dropping between the defenders and orchestrating play.

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Wood spent three years at United as the head coach of the club's Under-21s before joining Salford City and was part of the staff who observed Mainoo's potential.

He was recently asked about Mainoo on the United We Stand podcast. "He's had a great upbringing. He's come all the way through the academy system there at Man United," Wood said.

"He's had a lot of experience throughout that time on and off the pitch. When I was there, he was still quite young and we were starting to introduce him into UEFA Youth League games and Under-21 games, just to kind of test and stretch him a little bit.

"Then he would go back into the Under-18s or Under-16s to regain the confidence that they lost a little bit when they're against players who are four or five years older than him.

"I think what you see with Kobbie now is he's a real technician. He can handle the ball, he's really good on the ball and I think that's down to years and years of technical development.

"He's got a wise and mature head on his shoulders where he's got himself into the keep, kept himself there, but tactically he's doing the role, it looks like Erik ten Hag likes him dropping between the back line and controlling build-up.

"He seems really comfortable doing that and he's got experienced pros around him. He's done really, really well. What you're looking at him to do is to control the game and that's why he's playing that role.

"He's really good at that, he can find himself out of tight situations and he has a great passing range. You'd like to see him dominate and control more and that will come with the more games he plays.

"The more he does it, his confidence levels will go through the roof and that's when he'll hit another level."

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