Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo described his winning goal in Thursday’s Premier League clash with Wolves as a “dream come true”, netting the stunning solo effort in the 97th minute at Molineux after it looked like it would be more dropped points.
United were leading 3-1 with only five minutes of the 90 left to play, before Max Kilman and then Pedro Neto’s 95th-minute equaliser brought it back to 3-3. But Mainoo’s decisive strike straight after saw him beat two Wolves players in a tight area and find the far bottom corner from 18 yards.
“It’s a dream come true,” he told TNT Sports on the pitch after the final whistle. “I’ve still not come down from it and still feel like I’m dreaming, to be honest. You’ll have to give me a second.”
Mainoo, who doesn’t even turn 19 until April, has now made 12 first-team appearances so far this season, including starts in the last eight consecutive games across all competitions. It might have been a lot more but for an ankle injury suffered in pre-season.
“To start playing in the Premier League for my boyhood club, it’s been amazing, and now just trying to get a good run of games in, win more game and get real momentum going,” he added.
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United captain Bruno Fernandes was alongside the teenager during the interview and mentioned that he had already stood out to those at the club for a long time.
“I’ve seen him playing for the Under-18s, maybe two or three years ago, and I said Kobbie’s name to a friend who was in Manchester and wanted to see some youth games, without knowing that he was going to become this player,” Fernandes explained.
Throughout his run in the first-team since starting against Everton in late November, Mainoo has earned widespread plaudits for not only his technical ability, but his attitude, composure and football intelligence for a player still so young and inexperienced at senior level.
