Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker has hailed the “impressive” performance of one Manchester United star after the Red Devils’ 2-1 win over Aston Villa on Sunday.
Manchester United clinched an important three Premier League points over top-four rivals Aston Villa, with Scott McTominay scoring the winner in the 86th minute.
Rasmus Hojlund fired United into a first-half lead at Villa Park, with the 21-year-old Denmark striker scoring in his last five matches across all competitions.
Douglas Luiz cancelled out Hojlund’s opener in the second half, but McTominay came off the bench and fired home a bullet header past Villa No 1 Emi Martinez.
The Red Devils are undefeated in their last six matches across all competitions, with United winning three of their four Premier League fixtures since the start of 2024.
Erik ten Hag’s men are currently sixth in the Premier League table and are five points adrift of fifth-place Villa and six points behind fourth-place Tottenham.
Gary Lineker has now singled out one United player who deserves credit for his “brilliant” showing at Villa Park.
Lineker impressed with Man Utd star
Speaking on The Rest Is Football, former England striker Gary Lineker was impressed with Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo.
Mainoo has had a remarkable breakthrough season at Old Trafford and established himself as an important midfield figure under United manager Erik ten Hag.
The 18-year-old Stockport-born midfielder started alongside Casemiro in midfield and produced a solid display against Aston Villa in the Premier League clash.
Mainoo was booked in the first half at Villa Park and the United man was withdrawn in injury time by Ten Hag and replaced by Fiorentina loanee Sofyan Amrabat.
“Kobbie Mainoo. He is very young but boy is he impressive,” Lineker said.
“He was brilliant again at the weekend.”
Mainoo’s development at Man Utd continues
Mainoo has played in 10 Premier League appearances for United and scored once, with the United star scoring the winner in the dramatic 4-3 win against Wolves.
The teenage sensation has started all 10 Premier League matches, with Ten Hag preferring a two-man midfield partnership between Mainoo and Casemiro.
Ten Hag has hailed the influence of Casemiro on Mainoo after the former Real Madrid star returned from a hamstring injury in January.
“I am happy he [Casemiro] is back,” he said.
“For Kobbie, he can learn a lot from him. Kobbie is very coachable and Casemiro has so much experience, Kobbie will learn a lot from it and that will accelerate his development.
“I am happy to have him and when they play together they can benefit from each other.”
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/hdYc0Lb