Erik ten Hag can now fulfil Kobbie Mainoo promise upon Manchester United return

Manchester United made seven summer signings this year but the return of Kobbie Mainoo will feel like an eighth.

The 18-year-old has not played for the senior team since suffering a serious ankle injury picked up in a freak collision just two minutes into the pre-season friendly with Real Madrid. He was selected to start ahead of a number of senior players for the fixture, and Erik ten Hag had seemed to signal his intentions.

Mainoo made his senior debut in January’s League Cup quarter-final clash with Charlton Athletic before being afforded two more appearances in the weeks after. He may have had more if he had not picked up a knock towards the end of the campaign.

READ MORE: Kobbie Mainoo provides injury recovery update

READ MORE: Mainoo is about to discover where he stands with Erik ten Hag

The teenager - who subsequently signed a new deal in February - has been recently getting back up to speed with the academy. He grabbed a couple of assists against League Two Salford City in the EFL Trophy a fortnight ago and looked head-and-shoulders above the rest.

United have been careful to manage his recovery but Mainoo is now back in matchday squads. He has made the last three Premier League squads and surely a return to action is close.

The door has been left ajar by injuries in midfield. Casemiro, of course, is a slightly different type of central player but his absence until the new year means a spot in midfield is nevertheless up for grabs.

More recently, Christian Eriksen has been added to the physio chart. The Dane suffered a knee injury in Saturday’s win over Luton Town and had to be withdrawn before half-time. It leaves the midfield ranks thinned for at least a month.

Mason Mount has failed to get going so far