Kobbie Mainoo delivered his best performance of the season for Man Utd in their thrilling 3-2 win against Fulham at Old Trafford.
Kobbie Mainoo
Kobbie Mainoo was excellent for Manchester United against Fulham
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Michael Carrick hailed Kobbie Mainoo as a "joy to watch" after praising his performance for Manchester United in their dramatic Old Trafford win against Fulham.
The 20-year-old academy graduate delivered his best display since returning to the side after Ruben Amorim was sacked, playing with tenacity and energy out of possession and combining it with his usual quality on the ball.
Mainoo has now started all three games under Carrick and is getting better by the week, with the 44-year-old head coach praising his work in and out of possession in the 3-2 win against Fulham.
Marco Silva's side threatened through the middle at Old Trafford and Casemiro and Mainoo had plenty of work to get through, but Carrick was delighted with what he saw from the Stockport-born youngster, who is enjoying a stunning renaissance under this management.
"Kobbie’s performance was very, very good today in so many ways again," he said. "You could see that the way Fulham play and overload the middle times in the movements, and there was a lot of work for Kobbie and Cassie to do, particularly in the middle of the pitch.
"So that was without the ball, and I thought he's terrific in that. And then with the ball, I’ve spoken about it before, about the ability to just cope, he's not really fazed by it. He just plays his game. He understands what's needed and it's the moments of quality.
"It's kind of what we come to expect from him in many ways and what I come to expect, but you forget how young he is still. He's still got loads to come, but seeing him today and playing with that kind of confidence and belief. That's a real joy to watch, to be honest, for any young player."
Carrick also reserved praise for Harry Maguire, who continued his own impressive return to the side with an excellent display against Fulham, with the 32-year-old's experience once again invaluable.
Maguire's performances could yet earn him a new contract, while he is also trying to force his way back into Thomas Tuchel's England squad for the World Cup this summer.
"We've got some really good centre-backs at the club and obviously a couple of young ones [Ayden Heaven and Leny Yoro] on the bench today, which have got big, big futures hopefully at this club, so we just felt that the time we came in, I thought his experience was important.
"The other two boys, as I say, will have a lot of games and a lot of performances in their career here, because they've got really bright futures, but Harry's came in after playing not a lot of football really, and came into it and done ever so well.
"He is what he is; he's such a big presence and he’s been there, seen it and done it. Similarly, I think that helps within the group when we've got some young players who are still learning.
"So I think he's had a big influence with that, and just that composure, as I say, to understand the moments and not be fazed by it, being a big presence there with him and Licha, particularly at the back, give us the foundation to build on.
"See what see what the future holds in terms of World Cup but when he's like that and the way he's played he's certainly one of the best for me."