Ian Wright is spot on - 'immense' Man Utd star is absolutely ready for next big career step

By the end, it was nothing more than pure chaos. As Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo streaked away through the heart of the Old Trafford midfield, Liverpool's quadruple hopes trailing in their wake, Manchester United were lining up with a hobbling Bruno Fernandes at centre-back and a human fidget spinner incarnate, Antony, on the left side of defence.

It was disorder on a grand scale, and the kind of improbable jaws of defeat heist that people used to write ballads about. But throughout, or at least for the first 80 minutes before he was hooked in favour of Christian Eriksen, one man (more of a boy, in truth) provided a metronomic antidote to the pandemonium around him.

Once again, Kobbie Mainoo, not 19 until next month, performed with the composure and technical prowess of a player much older. With every passing masterclass, he convinces more and more that he is a superstar-in-waiting, and increasingly he looks to be the most vital component in a United midfield that is far too expensive and experienced to amble around with such naive abandon.

Indeed, there were plenty of moments in Sunday's folkloric 4-3 extra time FA Cup vanquishing of Liverpool in which it felt as if Mainoo was the only United player in possession of any kind of rational sensibility. As others charged around with a playground feverishness, it was the teenager who often found himself soberly controlling proceedings, doing the simple things and sniffing out danger like a truffle piglet in Nike Phantoms.

Earlier this week, England manager Gareth Southgate seemingly poured cold water over Mainoo's hopes of making a late charge for this summer's Euro 2024 squad. At the very least, he has been omitted from a friendly double header against Brazil and Belgium in the coming week, with the Waistcoated One explaining: 'I think that he's doing brilliantly for a young player and we're never slow to put a young player into seniors. But he's only had a handful of games and you have to be very careful development-wise in making those decisions at the right time. So we think ideally, we should allow him that space to develop at his own speed.'

The problem with that approach is that Mainoo's 'speed' is hardly comparable to the average England international. Yes, he has only made 23 senior appearances for United at this fledgling stage in his career, but in that time he has come to beguile and dominate in a way that few others have.

It's a point that Ian Wright seems to fully understand. Speaking in a video on social media during the aftermath of United's dramatic win, the former Arsenal striker asked: 'How's Kobbie Mainoo not in that squad? Roy [Keane], how's Kobbie Mainoo not in that squad? Come on, man. Come on. The man was immense today."

And if Mainoo continues on his current trajectory, the clamour surrounding his potential inclusion is only going to get louder between now and the end of the season. While Southgate's bid to protect the teenager is admirable in its intent, it also fails to recognise an undeniable truth; if you're good enough, you're old enough.

No doubt Mainoo's time will come for the national side, but Wright is, well, right. The United midfielder should be waking up this morning and packing his bags ahead of an exhibition against Brazil on Saturday evening. Instead, he, like the rest of us, will spend the night watching Jordan Henderson trundle around the Wembley turf. Lucky us.