British born Ghanaian midfielder Kobbie Boateng Mainoo is in line to feature in Manchester United’s crucial game against Galatasaray in Turkey if United manager Erik Ten Hag’s words are anything to go by.
Ahead of the must win game, Ten Hag showed his willingness to play the 18 year old when he spoke at a press conference saying, “If they are good enough, they are old enough.”
He quickly switched to sound a word of caution to the prodigious player who is of Ghanaian descent after the latter’s Man of the Match performance in a 3-0 Man United Premier League win over Everton.
“We were very pleased with the performance at Everton, but it’s one performance and you have to do it on a consistent basis. Kobbie is so mature…You have to keep your focus on the game. You have to focus on your game, your performance and get the right levels in.”
For Man United captain, Bruno Fernandes, who heaped praise on Mainoo after the Everton game, the Portuguese playmaker did same in the lead up to the Galatasaray matchup.
“I think he’s a special player… what he puts on the game, what he gives to the team, it’s known to anyone (in the squad).”
Mainoo has featured for England internationally at the Under 17, Under 18 and Under 19 levels but is still eligible to play for Ghana’s Black Stars despite heavy interest from England to cap him at the senior level.