Erik ten Hag could prove how much he trusts Kobbie Mainoo with Manchester United decision

If you watched Sunday afternoon's encounter at Goodison Park without any knowledge of Manchester United, you would have been forgiven for not realising it was Kobbie Mainoo's first-ever Premier League start.

One day shy of exactly four months since he last appeared for the first time, he produced an outstanding performance at the base of United's midfield. Chosen ahead of summer signing Sofyan Amrabat to marshal the engine room, the youngster left his calling card, leaving onlookers in awe.

Mainoo's only previous Premier League experience had amounted to just 10 minutes, coming on as a substitute in United's 3-0 win over Leicester City at Old Trafford back in February. Based on Sunday's evidence, you would never have realised.

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Bringing technicality and composure to United's midfield, Mainoo played a key role in helping the Reds record their biggest Premier League away win under manager Erik ten Hag to date. Controlling proceedings in midfield with measured and precise passing, the Stockport-born ace looked far more assured and composed than an 18-year-old making his full league debut should have done.

Operating in a cauldron of noise, created on the back of Everton's recent 10-point deduction, it would have been easy for Mainoo to have gone into hiding and get caught up in the occasion. Instead, he treated it as an opportunity to impress Ten Hag, who had a bird's-eye view of the youngster's first league start from high up in the main stand.

Mainoo's performance was so polished and impressive that it is going to be increasingly difficult for Ten Hag to leave him out of his starting line-up