JULES BREACH

The TNT Sports presenter pays tribute to the young stars shining this season

Seeing a young academy graduate break into the first team of your football club is one of the most wholesome joys as a fan. This Premier League season, we’ve seen some outstanding breakthrough displays from players who, in the last few months, have become household names.

The excitement around Kobbie Mainoo at Manchester United had been building for a while but, after picking up an ankle injury in pre-season, United fans had to wait until November to see the 18-year-old make his first league start. It was well worth the wait. In a 3-0 win at Everton, the Stockport-born teenager was awarded man of the match and hasn’t looked back since.

Mainoo joined United’s academy at just eight years old, and he’s now one of the first names on the team-sheet. His composure on the ball has brought a calmness to United’s midfield in what’s been, at times, a chaotic season. He followed up his first senior goal in the FA Cup with his first Premier League goal, a stunning late winner at Wolves. Many youngsters would struggle when thrust into the spotlight at a club like United, but Mainoo has thrived and is almost certain to develop into one of the best midfielders in the Premier League. If he continues to perform at this level over the coming months, it could be very difficult for Gareth Southgate to ignore him for this summer’s Euros.