Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo exhibited his talent with an exceptional performance in his team’s 2-1 triumph over Luton on Sunday, following in the footsteps of Paul Pogba along the way.
Mainoo shone as one of the standout players during a fast-paced match at Kenilworth Road. Rasmus Hojlund wasted no time, netting the opener for United just 46 seconds into the game, extending his streak of scoring in six consecutive appearances in all competitions.
The Danish midfielder doubled his tally seven minutes later, putting Erik ten Hag’s side on track for their fourth consecutive Premier League victory.
However, Luton staged a comeback, and despite Carlton Morris pulling one back in the 14th minute, United struggled to maintain control, facing relentless pressure from Rob Edwards’ side.
Despite Luton’s efforts, including 22 shots on Andre Onana’s goal and dominating possession with 58 percent over 90 minutes, they failed to find an equalizer, securing a vital win for United.
While Ten Hag’s team received criticism from fans, Mainoo’s composed performance stood out, placing him alongside Paul Pogba in a particular statistic.
The 18-year-old completed six dribbles against Luton, just one fewer than Pogba managed in a game in April 2022, making them the two United players with the most dribbles in a single match since then.
According to WhoScored, the closest United player to Mainoo’s dribbling tally against Luton was Diogo Dalot with two, while Luton’s Ross Barkley completed five dribbles.
Mainoo’s impressive displays at the club level have sparked discussions about a potential call-up to the England squad for Euro 2024.
He is also eligible to represent Ghana, having previously played for England at various youth levels.
According to the Daily Mail, Mainoo will defer making a formal decision about his international future until he is “in contention for competitive senior caps,” providing Gareth Southgate with an opportunity to convince the midfielder that his international allegiance lies with England.
