Kobbie Mainoo impressed yet again after scoring stunning late winner for Man United against Wolves… but how does the Red Devil starlet compare to his England peers and top U21 stars?
On Thursday evening, Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo made his mark as one of the Premier League’s brightest talents.
The Red Devils youngster scored a stunning late winner to give his side a 4-3 victory over Wolves, completing a tidy finish after a sensational solo run.
The 18-year-old made his ninth Premier League appearance since breaking into the Red Devils’ first-team with a goal, as he once again showcased his immense talent.
As fans start to suggest that the United youngster could secure a surprise place in the England squad for Euro 2024, the statistics appear to support the argument.
So here, Mail Sport – with the help of Opta Stats Perform – takes a look at how the United youngster compares to his English colleagues and rival Under 21 stars.
Kobbie Mainoo scored a stunning late winner for Man United on their trip to Wolves
The 18-year-old continued his meteoric rise as the Red Devils recorded a dramatic late victory
Firstly, it makes sense to see how Mainoo fares against some of the other Under 21 talents in the English top flight this season.
And with the 18-year-old having made just nine Premier League appearances for the Red Devils, his per-90 stats provide the best insight into his performances for United.
The England youngster ranks fifth in terms of successful passes compared to other under-21 players with at least 500 minutes played.
Mainoo currently averages 36.29 successful passes per 90, with only Chelsea duo Malo Gusto and Levi Colwill and Brighton stars Carlos Baleba and Jack Hinshelwood producing more.
Within this statistic, we can also see that the youngster boasts the third-best passing accuracy, as he has completed 85.62 percent of his pass attempts. Again, only Baleba and Gusto do better.
In terms of his range, the United star averages the highest number of through balls among his colleagues.
With his 0.29 through balls per match, the 18-year-old surpasses the likes of Chelsea’s Colwill and Newcastle’s Lewis Miley to claim top spot.
He is also second in the rankings for passes played into the final third, with only Colwill (who averages a whopping 7.2 per 90) better than Mainoo’s 4.14.
The youngster has made just nine Premier League appearances for United but has managed to become a key member of the squad
Chelsea’s Malo Gusto (L) and Levi Colwill (R) are among the few Under 21 players in the Premier League to average more passes than the United star
Meanwhile, looking at his defensive duties, Mainoo ranks fifth in most matches won per 90, thanks to his impressive figure of 5.57.
Only the aforementioned Baleba and Colwill – as well as Facundo Buonanotte and Alejandro Garnacho – surpass the United star’s tally.
However, Mainoo manages to get into the top four by analyzing the most tackles won per 90 – an average of 1.29 tackles per game.
The statistics clearly show that, compared to his Under 21 counterparts, Mainoo has to be seen as one of the Premier League’s most consistent and exciting young stars.
And as he continues to impress for the Red Devils, there is no escaping calls for Mainoo to earn a senior call-up to England.
Given the lack of central midfield options in England ahead of this summer’s European Championship, Mainoo has an outside chance to be part of Gareth Southgate’s squad.
Fortunately, Opta Stats Perform has provided useful information comparing Mainoo’s first nine career games with those of his English counterparts.
Mainoo’s defensive stats are incredibly impressive in the early stages of his senior career
Stats also compared Mainoo’s early professional career to some of his compatriots, such as Jude Bellingham (L) and Declan Rice (R).
Compared to Declan Rice, Conor Gallagher, Curtis Jones, Jude Bellingham and Lewis Miley, the Man United star comes out on top in a number of categories.
Perhaps the most impressive statistic is his 261 successful passes – which is better than any other Three Lions star.
Miley’s 217 successful passes, which came at the start of his Newcastle career, are the second best on the league table.
Meanwhile, Mainoo’s nine tackles – from his first nine games – outpaced all his compatriots’ attempts, with Miley’s eight coming closest.
His 39 games won puts him second on the list, with Gallagher’s 46 – achieved during his spell at Charlton Athletic in 2019/20 – the only statistic better.
Although Mainoo is yet to get an assist and has not created a big chance for United so far, his lone goal sees him equal the respective scores of Jones and Miley.
Meanwhile, Sofascore statistics show that Mainoo has the eighth highest average rating for all under-21 central midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues.
Sofascore statistics show that Mainoo has the eighth highest average rating for all under-21 central midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues
Real Madrid superstar Jude Bellingham tops the list with an excellent rating of 8.08, given his impressive performances this year, while Mainoo’s rating is 6.90.
Talents like Xavi Simons, Gavi and Warren Zaire-Emery are also above the United star, but that’s understandable given their long-standing presence in their respective teams.
Mainoo is expected to be rewarded with a new Man United contract at the end of the season, a year after the Stockport-born teenager signed his current deal.
His progress could also see Mainoo force his way into England ahead of this summer’s European Championship.