Erik ten Hag’s youngsters step up: 17-year-old Kobbie Mainoo puts on an assured display on his debut

Kobbie Mainoo was just a one-year-old boy the last time Manchester United played Charlton Athletic in February 2007.

Fast forward to Tuesday night, and the highly rated 17-year-old received a standing ovation from the Old Trafford faithful after making his debut against the Addicks during the Carabao Cup quarter-final victory of Man United 3-0.

Mainoo put in a confident display in his first competitive outing for United’s first team, showing composure in midfield and enjoying some fine moments in the final third.

Before kick-off, the United manager had urged Mainoo to seize the opportunity as he had ‘deserved’ his call-up.

‘For him [Mainoo] It is a great opportunity, he did very well during the winter camp in Spain. He also did very well against Everton in a friendly. He deserved to play so I’m happy to give him the chance, it’s about deserving it,” Ten Hag told MUTV.

With Bruno Fernandes suspended and Donny Van de Beek injured, as well as Ten Hag making a series of changes to his squad ahead of this weekend’s Manchester derby, it allowed Mainoo to step up.

Although the Stockport-born midfielder, who became the eighth United player to make his debut for Ten Hag, in no way seemed out of place, he did not show his full potential that night.

There were some brighter moments where he linked up with Antony in the final third, but some more sloppy points where the 17-year-old lost possession and committed a critical foul on the edge of the United box.

His debut was ultimately cut short when he was replaced on the hour mark along with Fred and Antony as Ten Hag sent reinforcements in Casemiro, Eriksen and Rashford.

Mainoo has been an unused substitute twice in the Premier League this season, but Ten Hag selected him for the recent warm-weather training camp in Spain and he actually scored in the friendly with Cádiz.

He also performed well in the second half against Real Betis in United’s other friendly in Spain.

That night, though Mainoo looked composed in midfield, it was 18-year-old Alejandro Garnacho who ran the show.

The United youngster caused all sorts of problems for Charlton and ran around right-back Sean Clare.

He was unlucky not to make the score sheet and Ashley Maynard-Brewer brilliantly saved a late effort on Charlton’s goal.

Ten Hag were keen to make debuts last night and another to benefit was 21-year-old Facundo Pellistri, who was finally given his chance after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer signed the winger from Uruguayan Penarol for £9m in 2020.

Despite only coming on in the 84th minute, he lit up the Old Trafford stage with a quick cameo.

He first made a sprint run down the right before pushing in Scott McTominay for an attempt on goal.

But having only been on the pitch for a few minutes, he created United’s third goal with a marvelous run inside, using McTominay as a decoy in the overlap, before slotting the ball to Rashford to net the second.

Anthony Elanga is a year younger than Pellistri but has now played nearly 50 times for the club. You wouldn’t have guessed it based on his performance.

Elanga wrestled in a new role when he was deployed up the middle. Except for having a goal disallowed for offside in the second half, the Swede was largely ineffective and unable to get into the game.

But the signs are still bright for Ten Hag, who is growing in his role as United manager with each passing day.