The English-born Ghanaian youngster came off the bench to score for Manchester United during their friendly vs Cadiz.
Kobbie Mainoo, 17, heeded his words and delivered an impressive performance and scored as United fell to a 4-2 defeat.
After coming on as a substitute at half-time Mainoo quickly proved he had the qualities to possibly gain a regular place in United’s midfield in the future.
He showed his presence, athletic ability and calmness on the ball, comfortably coping with the attentions of Cadiz’s more experienced players, while offering an attacking threat and threading passes through to the forward line.
He scored after 48 minutes when he received the ball on the right side of the penalty area, span towards goal, beat a player and hit a left-footed shot past the Cadiz goalkeeper David Gil, which benefited from a slight deflection.
Ten Hag was impressed with what the younger players, especially Mainoo brought to the game. “They gave energy, and they run; they fight,” he said afterwards.
Mainoo’s mature display came as no surprise to the United coaches who have been expecting him to make some form of an appearance in the first team this season.
He played a central role in United winning their first FA Youth Cup since 2011 at the end of last season, starting every game in that run and contributing two goals, and has continued to progress this season.
Mainoo is seen as potentially having the complete package for a central midfielder: pace, physicality, a great touch, impressive feet, goals, being committed in the tackle, a strong work ethic and an attacking instinct.
At the moment, he is also an adaptable player, who can be stationed in a defensive role, an attacking role, or even as the No.10 playmaker.
Born in Stockport, Mainoo has been at United since he was 9-years-old and progressed through their youth ranks before signing his first professional contract in May this year.
United’s coaches have always been impressed with his talent on the pitch, but are quietly confident he also has the personality and maturity off it to become an enduring success.
This season Mainoo has been playing mainly with the Under-21s, but he has also been asked to train with the first team and was given a place on the bench by Ten Hag for United’s Premier League game against Newcastle in October.
He has also made two international appearances for England’s Under 18s side this season against the Netherlands and Belgium.
But he is still a boy of 17, who doesn’t turn 18 until next April, and is not currently ready to be regularly thrust into the first team.
There is an expectation United will send him out on loan, possibly as soon as January, to gain some more first team experience with either a Championship side or in Europe.
