Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag might have hinted at his Kobbie Mainoo plan

Manchester United youngster Kobbie Mainoo was left beaming after a talk with Erik ten Hag on the Wembley pitch in February.

United had just defeated Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final and during the celebrations, there was a moment spotted between Mainoo and Ten Hag when the academy product received some words of advice from the manager.

Ten Hag stood with his arm around his shoulder and Mainoo raised a smile. The 18-year-old was handed his debut against Charlton just a few weeks before that conversation and that was followed by his first appearance in the Premier League.

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Mainoo won the FA Youth Cup last year and he's personally enjoyed a special 12 months. The midfielder is considered to be the leading prospect of his age group in United's academy and he was recognised last week with an award.

The Stockport-born lad was the latest pupil to be named the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year and he was presented with the trophy at half-time at Old Trafford during the penultimate game of the season against Chelsea.

Ten Hag has used Alejandro Garnacho, who won the award previously, as an example of a pathway to the first-team and Mainoo has been identified as the next talent to bridge the gap, which every academy player dreams of achieving.

Although every pupil in the academy aspires to play for the first-team, the reality is very few realise that ambition. Mainoo has done brilliantly to get to this stage and he's understood to be a level-headed character.

Those who know him best paint a picture of a likeable, grounded young man and he's now working under a manager who understands the importance of giving young players a chance, which is something knitted in the