Wayne Rooney believes Kobbie Mainoo is destined to have a big future at Manchester United, even comparing the teenager to a young Bastian Schweinsteiger.
After an injury-disrupted start to the campaign, Mainoo has racked up 14 Premier League starts and become a key cog in Erik ten Hag’s midfield, delivering a number of stellar displays.
Despite not even representing England at Under-21 level yet, the 18-year-old is in the frame to be called up to Gareth Southgate’s senior squad for this month’s international friendlies – and could even make this summer’s Euros squad too.
Rooney, who was at Old Trafford on Saturday to watch United’s clash with Everton, has been enormously impressed by Mainoo’s precociousness and sees similarities with former team-mate Schweinsteiger.
Asked for this thoughts on the young midfielder, Rooney told TNT Sports: ‘I think he’s been incredible at such a young age, the maturity he shows.
‘When you see young players come into any first-team they’re normally a bit raw and they normally play off the cuff.
‘He reminds me of a young Bastian Schweinsteiger, in how he plays, enticing players in.
‘He always seems to make the right decision. So I think he’s got a bright future.’
World Cup winner Schweinsteiger only played 18 times in the Premier League for United, having been signed by his old Bayern Munich boss Louis van Gaal in the twilight of his playing career back in 2015.
Rooney’s fellow pundit Rio Ferdinand was also full of praise for Mainoo’s performances this season and believes he has a poise that few young players possess.
‘I enjoy watching him,’ said Ferdinand. ‘We all talk about young players, I think all of us, our eyes are always open looking for the next young players.
‘He’s a young player who has that calmness. We can talk about ability, the ability is there for a lot of young players in their makeup.
‘But it’s about what’s up here [in the mind] and he seems to have that calmness and an assuredness as a young player that is beyond his years.’
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