“Nobody has done that ever since Paul Pogba left the Premier League. Not even Kelvin De Bruyen and Bruno Fernandes. But the young 18 years old boy broke the record effortlessly in one match. This shows how ionic his career will be”-Kobbie Mainoo becomes first Man Utd player since Paul Pogba to produce stunning record vs Luton
In Manchester United’s recent 2-1 triumph over Luton, midfielder Kobbie Mainoo shone brightly, drawing comparisons to the likes of Paul Pogba. Amidst the fast-paced clash at Kenilworth Road, Rasmus Hojlund swiftly put United ahead within just 46 seconds, extending his streak of goal-scoring performances to six consecutive outings.
Hoijlund added another goal seven minutes later, steering Erik ten Hag’s squad toward their fourth successive Premier League victory. Despite Luton’s retaliation, with Carlton Morris narrowing the scoreline in the 14th minute, United encountered challenges in maintaining dominance against Rob Edwards’ determined side.
Despite facing 22 shots on Andre Onana’s goal and conceding possession advantage to Luton with 58% over 90 minutes, United managed to hold on for the win. Amidst criticisms leveled at ten Hag’s team, Mainoo’s poised display stood out, particularly in a statistical comparison with Pogba.
Mainoo, at 18, completed six dribbles against Luton, falling just short of Pogba’s record from April 2022, establishing them as the top two dribblers for United in a single match since that time. Notably, Diogo Dalot trailed with two dribbles, while Luton’s Ross Barkley managed five.
Mainoo’s impressive performances at the club level have ignited talks regarding his potential inclusion in the England squad for Euro 2024, although he remains eligible to represent Ghana, having previously featured for England at youth levels. Mainoo intends to delay a decision on his international future until he contends for senior caps, giving Gareth Southgate an opportunity to sway him towards representing England, as reported by the Daily Mail.
