Koby Mainu has been waiting for his moment so far this season, and he was finally given the perfect chance to break into Manchester United’s starting XI after making a brilliant cameo in the 4-4 draw with Bournemouth.
With Casemiro ruled out of the subsequent game against Villa Park due to suspension, it was a chance for Mainu to put his rights on the line and once again show the manager why he can be a regular in the team.
There was no doubt a collective groan from the supporters when the 20-year-old’s name did not appear on the final team sheet, with the youngster suffering a setback through injury and a missed opportunity to take advantage of Bruno Fernandes’ own absence against Newcastle United.
Luck doesn’t seem to be on Mynu’s side right now. The hero of the 2024 FA Cup final is no longer the golden boy at Old Trafford under Ruben Amorim.
That was certainly the case during Erik ten Hag’s time in charge, rising from obscurity to becoming a firm favorite for both club and country in just six months.
Remembering the rise of the Mainu in 2023/24
Mainoo, a key figure in United’s 2022 FA Youth Cup win, was given three senior cameos during the 2022/23 season, but it actually took until November 2023 to secure his first Premier League start.
Injury prevented him from starting the following season, but the then teenager never looked back from his man-of-the-match appearance at Goodison Park, establishing himself as a key player in Ten Hag’s midfield.
After making his first senior start in late November, Mainu’s first goal came in an away game against Newport County in January; that Just a few days later at Molineux, he took a stunning solo victory.
The Stockport native has undoubtedly been United’s bright light during a turbulent season, scoring a memorable goal in the 2-2 draw with Liverpool at Old Trafford before his best moment at Wembley in May.
Mainu was called up to Gareth Southgate’s side in March and had already secured senior international recognition by that stage, before making his mark at that summer’s European Championships.
After a wobbly and tumultuous group stage, the midfield sensation helped lead the Three Lions into the knockout phase and started every game thereafter, but Southgate’s side ultimately lost by a narrow margin in a showdown.
It’s remarkable how he went from being a relative unknown to starting in the finals of his country’s major tournaments in just over six months.
That journey should be a source of encouragement for current United colleagues…
Teenage sensation could become Manchester United and England’s new minnow
As with Maynou, a lot can change between the early season international break and March, and players who have yet to earn a cap still have a chance to be included in Thomas Tuchel’s squad for the next World Cup.
It may be a bold claim given his limited minutes so far, but 19-year-old Aiden Haven could be a candidate to follow in Maynou’s footsteps, and a chance for England should never be far away.
After signing from Arsenal for just £1m in January and making just one top-flight appearance for the Gunners, the midfielder-turned-centre back has been something of a revelation since then, comfortably appearing when called upon.
Although an injury suffered against Leicester City at the end of last season hampered his development, the teenager has already performed well in his short spell, with club legend Wayne Rooney among those hailing the signing as a “real coup” for the club.
Following such early expectations, the 2025/26 season got off to a strong start. In grassroots football coach Terry Bobby’s view, the player with a “Paul Pogba-esque swagger” was on the fringes after a disastrous away start to Grimsby Town.
Aiden Haven – 25/26 PL Stats | |
|---|---|
Statistics (*per game) | record |
game | 7 |
begins | 5 |
clean sheet | 1 |
Pass accuracy | 91% |
A big opportunity has arisen | 1 |
Total number of duels won | 64% |
Won a ground duel | 56% |
won an aerial battle | 70% |
loss of ownership | 3.0 |
Statistics by Sofascore | |
His first start against West Ham United was ended when he was substituted at half-time after receiving an unnecessary early yellow for a reckless foul on Jarrod Bowen.
However, despite the absence of Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt, Haven has since retained his place, starting against Wolves and Bournemouth and winning the man of the match gong in the recent win over Newcastle.
As Amorim himself admits, players like Magpire and de Ligt may face a battle to return to the side. According to Sofascore, Haven looked confident despite the chaos against the Magpies, winning 100 per cent of his duels, especially from his role as a right-sided centre-back.
What particularly caught my eye was the left-footed player’s Pogba-like ability to slide the ball forward from deep positions, displaying a style of performance that belies his age.
That’s why England lack depth at centre-back, but Heaven should be a wildcard candidate to qualify for the World Cup, alongside the likes of John Stones, Marc Guehi and Ezri Konsa.
Maguire’s time as a Three Lions regular appears to be over, but Haven, who reportedly turned down the chance to switch allegiance to Ghana, could become the next England international to form the heart of United’s defence.
Indeed, just as Maynou briefly solved Southgate’s midfield conundrum at Euro 2024, the Red Devils’ newest teenage star could do the same at centre-back under Tuchel.
Tevez 2.0: Manchester United’s ‘maverick’ looks like a bigger talent than Semenyo
Manchester United may be set to miss out on Antoine Semenyo, but it’s not the end of the world.
