'He's being with us since a young age'- Academy Head Coach praises Kobbie Mainoo after Premier League debut

Manchester United's teenage midfielder Kobbie Mainoo has earned the praises of Man United's head of academy, Nick Cox.

 

The 17-year-old has made some baby steps under Erik Ten Hag's management after he made his debut in the Carabao Cup quarterfinals against Charlton Athletic.

 

The young midfielder has appeared on the bench several times this campaign, but he was handed his Premier League debut on Sunday during Manchester United's 3-0 win against Leicester City after Marcel Sabitzer was substituted with ten minutes left on the clock. That made it his third appearance for the senior team since his return from the World Cup tournament.

 

"[We are] always delighted when a young boy makes a debut, particularly when they start a game,” Nick Cox stated during an interview with the club's media. 

 

 

“It’s very different coming off the bench than starting a game, so he’s had to earn that [against Charlton]."

 

“The manager [Ten Hag] doesn’t do favors." "You play on the team if you’re good enough."

 

“You don’t get special treatment because you’re a young lad who’s come through the system; you’ve got to earn it." He’s done that, and that’s great.”

 

Nick Cox expressed that the academy is happy to see the player, who has been at the club since his childhood, progress and claimed his development will be positively affected by Erik Ten Hag's presence.

 

"There’s a long way to go,” he said. “I’m obviously really proud of him, really pleased for him and for his family."

 

“He’s been with us since a very young age. "A lot of people have put in a lot of hard work and effort to support him and navigate him on a journey, and now he falls under the care of the manager and his team."

 

“He’s going to be well looked after because they’re very passionate about young players and making sure that their team consists of young players—particularly homegrown ones," he explained.

 

Nick Cox further explained how Kobbie Mainoo is benefiting from Erik Ten Hag.

 

"[Ten Hag is] teaching him exactly how he wants him to play, should he become a regular member of the first team and play on a regular basis at some point in the future."

 

“You want to see players stay in the building, work with the academy, work with the first team, and find their way into the first team under our care." That is the ideal journey," Nick Cox told manunited.com.