TIM HOWARD: I was lucky to play with Paul Scholes at Manchester United but Kobbie Mainoo should look to emulate Declan Rice instead… plus the two coaches I’d like to replace Erik ten Hag

When it comes to the hype surrounding a young player, I often say: take it easy. Pump the brakes. Don’t put too much on their shoulders. Not in the case of Kobbie Mainoo.

Every generation will have a player who far surpasses their years in on-field intelligence and maturity. He does. He knows how to control attention very well. At 19, the world is his.

Who knows what this Manchester United midfield will look like in the coming years? But he will be the most important cog.

He makes the ball tap, creates pace, moves across the field, tackles and he showed again against Manchester City that he has a clear eye for goal.

Mainoo has found himself in a Manchester United team struggling for quality and consistency. But that setback can promote your growth, provided you can deal with it. He can. And given how he will grow over the next four or five years, this could be a Manchester United captain. I know that sounds crazy. But by the time he’s 24, he’ll have a lot of experience.

There have already been comparisons with Paul Scholes and after the FA Cup final Scholes claimed that Mainoo is ’10 times the player I was when I was 19.’

It’s an incredible amount of praise. Because Scholesy was built differently. I was lucky to play and train next to him. He was a special player. Paul’s passing range was incredible and he hit the ball harder than almost anyone I’ve ever known.

If there was an opportunity to shoot a ball past the goalkeeper, he took it. During training, even at the highest level, players spend most of the time taking their foot off the accelerator and passing the ball into the net – almost as a professional courtesy.

That was never the case with Scholesy. I remember a few times when I left a rebound in front, I came up to it and tried to take my head off.

He would never apologize. He didn’t care. He would also tackle like you’ve never seen before. He trained like an animal. He was cut from that fabric after learning there was only one way to succeed at Manchester United.

Off the field, Scholesy was very difficult to train. And I don’t think he minds that.

He was incredibly quiet. He said “hello” or “good morning,” but that was about it, honestly. Go down in the canteen, go to the locker room, go down on the training field.

I can probably count on one hand the number of conversations I’ve had with Scholesy in three years. He didn’t speak to many people – Paul was close to Roy Keane, the Neville Brothers, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs… essentially the Class of 92 – plus a few extras! Those were the people he trusted, the people he came up with.

Mainoo is also a product of the United Academy. He has a similar stature. He’s young. So it’s an interesting comparison. But I don’t necessarily see it.

For me, there is another midfielder that Kobbie should look to for a blueprint for developing his game: Declan Rice.

He has had a breakthrough season at Arsenal as he now has the freedom to explore the opposite box. Kobe has the ability to do that too.

Now it’s up to his managers: can they let him do what he does best: break things up, use his energy – but also encourage him to move forward?

I wouldn’t be afraid to give him more licenses and expect more from him – in a United shirt and in an England shirt. Could he be an asset for Gareth Southgate at this summer’s European Championship? Certainly. This could be a good opportunity for him to get on that stage.

Is he expected to play the full ninety minutes every match? Probably not. But is there a way you can trust him in the middle of the park to tighten things up so Rice and Jude Bellingham can charge forward? That could be a revelation for England. Would I be concerned if I saw him in an England shirt this summer? No, I would be excited.

It’s great to win an FA Cup, especially against City. But the overall assessment of this United team and Erik ten Hag must be taken over the last twelve months. And so far everything Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos have done has been incredibly planned.

I don’t see a world where they get to the last kick of the season and think, let’s make a decision now. I’ve been saying for some time that United need a change of manager. One match cannot save Ten Hag’s job.

Manchester United have always been built on performing consistently at a very high level. Every now and then this team wants a pat on the back for performing well. Well, that’s what’s expected at United.

They need more identity. I always thought new managers need a lot of time to change a team – three transfer windows maybe to bring in your players and implement your style. But that has changed. Look at Roberto De Zerbi at Brighton and Unai Emery at Aston Villa.

It can happen very quickly and United need that. They need an identity change, they need to get a lot of players out the door and bring in good players. But who? The coaching carousel is a bit chaotic right now.

Kieran McKenna has been mentioned. That includes Gareth Southgate, Mauricio Pochettino, Thomas Tuchel and Thomas Frank – pretty much everyone in fashion seems to get a mention.

For me the interesting ones are Frank and Pochettino. Pochettino has a strong personality and identity. It’s shocking that he’s available.

And then there is Frank. His teams are creative with set pieces, they build from the back, they press at a very high tempo – and without any disrespect he has done that at Brentford.

Can you imagine what he could do with world-class players?

There is no middle ground for Manchester United. Competing for the top four? Give me a break. They have to compete for the titles.