'He's got' - Liverpool legend delivers verdict on Man Utd wonderkid Kobbie Mainoo

Graeme Souness believes Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo will 'get better and better' after enjoying a positive start to life within the senior setup at Old Trafford.

After making his first-team debut in a Carabao Cup win against Charlton Athletic in January last year, the talented youngster went on to make his Premier League bow as a substitute in a 3-0 win against Leicester City just over a month later. After shaking off an injury that limited his involvement in the opening months of the current season, Mainoo has established himself in Erik ten Hag's plans with a series of impressive displays.

A maiden first-team start came in a 3-0 win at Everton in November and Mainoo has never looked back as the 18-year-old has gone on to make 18 starts in all competitions after being named in Ten Hag's starting eleven for Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final tie against Liverpool.The youngster has received a number of plaudits in recent months after easing into life in the Premier League - and Liverpool legend Souness seemed to add his name to Mainoo's list of admirers as he discussed the midfielder's development ahead of the cup tie.

He told ITV Football: “I think he’s come in as a young boy, in a position where you have to be thinking all of the time, where is the danger, sensing danger, and he’s really good on the ball.  The fact he is really technical, he can take the ball in tight areas, that position will get better and better because he’ll learn.  He’s got a chance.  You’ll see what he’s made of today.

“Everyone is different, I can remember coming here as manager of Liverpool.  Rob Jones, we’d signed, he trained with us for three days, turned up for his debut against Ryan Giggs, who was absolutely flying at the time and he had a superb game.  If you haven’t got the temperament for a big game, this will find you out.”

Mainoo will quickly turn his attention towards international duty once Sunday's FA Cup tie is done after he was named in the England Under-21 squad for the first time for their upcoming games against Luxembourg and Azerbaijan.