Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo will reportedly be a part of Erik ten Hag's first-team squad during the 2023-24 campaign, having impressed with his recent development.
The 18-year-old make his first-team debut for the Red Devils against Charlton Athletic in January, and he then featured against Leicester City in the Premier League in the middle of February.
Mainoo also played against Reading in the FA Cup last term, and he has started both of the team's pre-season matches this summer against Leeds United and Lyon.
There had been suggestions that the midfielder could head out on loan this season, but according to the Manchester Evening News, he has been informed that he will be staying at Old Trafford.
The report claims that Mainoo was also the subject of loan interest in January, but he is now viewed as a first-team player despite his age and is set to be heavily involved in the team's pre-season games in the USA.
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The youngster recently penned a new deal with Man United until the summer of 2027, and Ten Hag name-checked him when discussing the young talent at Old Trafford earlier this year.
"I know the culture of Man United, I knew before, of course I was long employed in youth football, I met several times Man United in big tournaments in the Netherlands," Ten Hag told reporters at the time.
"In U15, Man United was always there, it's the biggest tournament for U15 teams but in the past everyone knew and talked about Busby Babes and generation 92, Man United has a big history of youth development and in our talks last year that was one of the points we talked about.
"Ajax was the same, as Man United, in developing young players, giving young players opportunities to work on their personality if they feel they are good persons and have a good life and can contribute in society but we want to develop [players into the first team].
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"I think we are in that perspective, [Alejandro] Garnacho, Kobbie Mainoo is also on his way. There is a pathway to the first-team but they have to deserve it. We have structures in the academy, brilliant work, U21 and training into the first team but talent has to do it by itself."
Mainoo has represented England Under-17s, England Under-18s and England Under-19s, but he is also eligible to play his international football for Ghana.
Man United have now landed in the United States for the first match of their pre-season tour, which will come against Arsenal on Saturday night.
The 20-time English champions will also take on Wrexham, Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund during the tour before heading back to Europe for friendlies against Lens and Athletic Bilbao.
Matt Law
