Former Manchester United star Wes Brown has admitted that he has been impressed with a “very calm” player under manager Erik ten Hag this season.
Erik ten Hag’s men punched their ticket to the FA Cup semi-finals after a thrilling 4-3 win over Liverpool in their quarter-final clash at Old Trafford last week.
The 54-year-old United manager was able to breathe a sigh of relief ahead of the international break, with the Red Devils keeping their FA Cup campaign alive.
Ten Hag has faced criticism this season over United’s underwhelming performances at times, with the Dutchman’s future cast in doubt amid Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s arrival.
Despite the noise around his future, the former Ajax boss has insisted that his focus is challenging for the FA Cup trophy and securing a top-four Premier League finish.
However, Wes Brown has now raved about arguably one of the most redeeming factors of United’s campaign so far.
Brown on ‘very calm’ Man Utd talent
Kobbie Mainoo has been a shining light in Manchester United’s season so far after his emergence in the Red Devils’ first team under Erik ten Hag.
The 18-year-old United midfielder has established himself as a key first-team player, with Mainoo earning rave reviews from fans and pundits over his performances.
Mainoo was a standout performer in United’s FA Cup quarter-final clash at Old Trafford, with the Red Devils star producing a show-stealing first-half performance.
England manager Gareth Southgate has even been forced to make a U-turn on Mainoo and include him in his Three Lions squad during the international break.
Mainoo, who has represented the Three Lions at youth level, had been called up to the England Under-21s squad after Gareth Southgate initially snubbed him.
Speaking to the PA news agency, Wes Brown was in awe at the Stockport-born player’s development at Old Trafford and Mainoo’s ability to absorb pressure.
“You can see from the way he plays that he’s very calm,” he said, as per The Independent.
“I don’t think he’ll let all the other stuff get to him, and that’s a good trait to have. He’s just thinking about football, and when you first come in that’s all you do think about.
“But since he’s come in he’s taken it upon himself to give himself the type of responsibility on the pitch that a lot of young players wouldn’t usually do.
“He’s been calm with the ball, and even when he comes under pressure, the way he gets out of that and passes the ball forward causes teams problems.”
Brown on Southgate’s England U-turn on Mainoo
Mainoo linked up with his England teammates on Tuesday at St George’s Park ahead of the Three Lions’ friendly matches against Brazil and Belgium.
The United star could earn his first appearance in an England shirt during the international break ahead of Euro 2024 in Germany this summer.
Brown, who made 362 appearances under Sir Alex Ferguson, believes that Southgate made a U-turn on his decision due to the potential he sees in Mainoo.
“He’s someone the club have always held in high regard,” he said.
“The way injuries have gone this season, it’s possibly forced their hand to put him in, but he’s also had to earn it.
“Once he’s got in, he’s been one of the best players in the team, if not the best.
“Gareth obviously sees the potential in him, and I think it’s good for him that he’s put in with the [England] boys to see how he reacts in training, and he might even get a game as well.
“If you were looking at him right now, you would say yes [he could go to the Euros], but international football is very different.”