Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag hints at major role for Kobbie Mainoo

Erik ten Hag expects Kobbie Mainoo's progress to continue after his superb full Premier League debut for Manchester United in their win against Everton.

Mainoo returned from a four-month lay-off with a knee injury to produce a man-of-the-match performance at Goodison Park, where United prevailed 3-0 in their biggest league win of the season and their first by a three-goal margin in a league away game since October 2021.

Ten Hag had accommodated Mainoo, 18, in the same midfield as Casemiro and Mason Mount in the pre-season friendly against Real Madrid in Houston when Mainoo sustained his injury.

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With Casemiro and Christian Eriksen out injured and Sofyan Amrabat out of the team, Ten Hag parachuted Mainoo into the first XI for his first competitive appearance since February 19.

"He has a lot of abilities and it was a really disappointing moment in pre-season when he got so badly injured," Ten Hag admitted. "For him but also for our team, because I know he can progress a lot if he plays many of such games as today.

"I know young players will develop very quickly and we thought it was the moment to bring him in. We prepared him properly but he did a great job and now he has to build on this."

United have won their last four away games in the Premier League and head to Galatasaray on Wednesday in a must-win Champions League group game before travelling to Newcastle United for a Saturday evening kick-off.

The atmosphere at Goodison was sulfurous as Everton fans protested against the Premier League's decision to dock them 10 points for breaching profitability and sustainability rules but United went ahead in the