KOBBIE MAINOO can be central to a successful new era at Manchester United.
That is the view of striker Rasmus Hojlund after a dramatic night at Molineux saw the teenage midfielder snatch victory with a 97th minute winner.
GettyKobbie Mainoo netted a sublime last-gasp winner against Wolves[/caption]
GettyThe United wonderkid has been called ‘a generational talent’[/caption]
The 18-year-old Stockport-born academy product jinked his way through the Wolves defence and curled a shot into the far bottom corner to make it 4-3.
It followed on from his first goal for the club in the FA Cup victory over Newport last Sunday.
Hojlund was purring about his team-mate’s quality afterwards and about what can be achieved by a group of new young players at the club.
The Dane said: “You can see his composure. He is so relaxed on the ball, so much quality on the ball.
“Now he’s also starting to show that he has the scoring parts of his game as well. He’s a complete player.
“He’s so relaxed, so calm. He knows his quality and he knows when he goes out there he’s going to perform.
“He’s a top player. A generational talent.”
Midfielder Mainoo’s goal was extra special as it was assisted by 19-year-old Omari Forson who had just come on for his third subs appearance of his United career.
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It was only the second time in the Premier League that a goal has been assisted and scored by teenagers.
The only other time Manchester United were involved Cristiano Ronaldo set-up Wayne Rooney in 2005 for the only goal of the game against Liverpool at Anfield.
With 20-year-old Hojlund now finding his feet with another goal on Thursday and Alejandro Garnacho, 19, continuing to shine, there is a core of young players making the future look bright.
Hojlund said: “I think I’ve said before that us young guys, we have a little group and we’re chatting to each other.
“It’s very cool to have other young players around the team and hopefully we can set an era for the club and be here many years together.”
Hojlund made it four goals in his last five games for United after an uncertain start following his £64.7million move from Atalanta.
He now has nine goals in this season after scoring five in the Champions League, one in the FA Cup and now three in the Premier League, having finally opened that account with the 3-2 comeback winner against Aston Villa on Boxing Day.
He said: “I knew I could score goals and I’d shown it in the Champions League and at my previous clubs but of course opening the account it’s always like ‘OK, I can do it’.”
“We’re starting to understand each other better in the team and I think I’m getting used to the Premier League and the tempo and how we play as a team.”
Marcus Rashford put aside his troubles to open the scoring on Thursday after just five minutes.
It came after he missed training last Friday claiming he was ‘ill’ having been partying until the early hours of that morning in Belfast.
Ten Hag was not referring to Rashford particularly after the game when he spoke about Mainoo’s attitude.
But he did make a point about the teenage star having only one thing on his mind and that’s football.
Ten Hag said: “He is a great kid. Only in his head is football.
“He wants to progress every day. He is really an example for a lot and he has abilities. He has talent but talent has to work hard to progress, and that is what he is doing.
“I hope and I wish push him to keep going.”
United’s win moved them to within eight points of the top four as they sit in seventh.
On Sunday, they host former Red Devils boss David Moyes’ West Ham who are just a point above them.
GettyUnited have an exciting core of young players[/caption]
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