“Pogba-esque” star could be this season’s Mainoo for Man Utd & England

After waiting for his moment for much of this season so far, Kobbie Mainoo was provided with the perfect chance to finally nail down a starting role at Manchester United, following a bright cameo in the 4-4 draw with Bournemouth.

With Casemiro ruled out through suspension for the subsequent trip to Villa Park, it was a chance for Mainoo to stake his claim, showcasing to his manager just why he should be a regular fixture in this side yet again.

There was no doubt then a collective groan from supporters when the 20-year-old’s name did not appear on the eventual teamsheet, with the youngster’s injury setback also seeing him miss the opportunity to capitalise on Bruno Fernandes’ own absence against Newcastle United.

Luck, it would seem, is not on Mainoo’s side right now, with the 2024 FA Cup final hero no longer the golden boy at Old Trafford under the Ruben Amorim regime.

He certainly was that during Erik ten Hag’s time at the helm, having risen from obscurity to become a firm favourite for both club and country in the space of just six months.

Remembering Mainoo’s rise in 2023/24

A central figure in United’s FA Youth Cup triumph in 2022, it did actually take until November 2023 for Mainoo to secure a first Premier League start, having previously been handed three senior cameos during the 2022/23 campaign.

Injury had hampered his start to the following season, but the then-teenager did not look back from his Man of the Match outing at Goodison Park, going from strength as the heartbeat of Ten Hag’s midfield.

From that first senior start in late November, Mainoo’s first goal came in January away at Newport County, before embarking on that stunning solo effort to clinch victory away at Molineux just a few days later.

Amid a turbulent campaign, the Stockport native was undoubtedly United’s shining light, memorably netting in the 2-2 draw with Liverpool at Old Trafford, before his crowning moment at Wembley in May.

Such was his rise, Mainoo had already secured senior international recognition by that stage after earning a call-up to Gareth Southgate’s squad in March, prior to going on to make his mark in that summer’s European Championships.

Following a stodgy, turgid group stage, the midfield sensation helped to steer the Three Lions through the knockout phase, starting every game thereafter as Southgate’s men were ultimately narrowly defeated in the showpiece.

It is remarkable that in the space of just over six months, he had gone from a relative unknown to starting in a major tournament final for his country.

That journey should be a source of encouragement for one of his current United colleagues…

Teen sensation could be the new Mainoo for Man Utd & England

As was the case with Mainoo, so much can change between the early-season international breaks and March, with even a player yet to earn a cap still in with a chance of making Thomas Tuchel’s squad for the upcoming World Cup.

It might be a bold claim considering his limited game time to date, but 19-year-old Ayden Heaven could be a contender to follow in Mainoo’s footsteps, with a senior England chance surely not too out of reach.

Signed from Arsenal for just £1m back in January, after making just a solitary senior appearance for the Gunners, the midfielder-turned-centre-back has been something of a revelation since then, comfortably slotting in when called upon.

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While an injury sustained against Leicester City in the back-end of last season did curtail his progress, the teenager had already shown enough in his fleeting appearances, with club legend Wayne Rooney among those to hail the deal as a “real coup” for the club.

Such early promise was followed by a sticky start to 2025/26, with a player with “Paul Pogba-esque swagger” – in the view of his grassroots football coach Terry Bobie – having been on the periphery after starting in the debacle away at Grimsby Town.

Even his first start against West Ham United was cut short following a half-time substitution, with the towering defender picking up a needless early yellow following a reckless foul on Jarrod Bowen.

In the absence of Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt, however, Heaven has since retained his place, starting against Wolves, Bournemouth and in the recent win over Newcastle, in which he claimed the Man of the Match gong.

As Amorim has himself admitted, the likes of Maguire and De Ligt might now face a fight to get back into the side, with Heaven looking so assured even amid the chaos against the Magpies, notably winning 100% of his duels from a right-sided centre-back role, as per Sofascore.

What has particularly caught the eye is the left-footer’s Pogba-style ability for gliding forward with the ball from deep, putting in a style of performance that completely belies his years.

It is for that reason, at a time when England are devoid of real depth at centre-back, that Heaven should be a wildcard contender for a World Cup spot, with places up for grabs outside of the likes of John Stones, Marc Guehi and Ezri Konsa.

Maguire’s time as a Three Lions regular appears to be over, yet Heaven might be United’s next England representative at the heart of the defence, having reportedly turned down the chance to switch allegiance to Ghana.

Indeed, much like Mainoo – albeit briefly – solved Southgate’s midfield conundrum at Euro 2024, the Red Devils’ newest teenage star can do the same at centre-back under Tuchel’s watch.

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