Roy Keane likens Kobbie Mainoo to former Man United team-mate amid his breakthrough year… but it’s not Paul Scholes!

Roy Keane has compared Manchester United wonderkid Kobbie Mainoo to one of his former team-mates at Old Trafford.

Mainoo has enjoyed an excellent breakthrough season at the club, establishing himself as a regular fixture in Erik ten Hag‘s side.

The 18-year-old’s performances led to Gareth Southgate performing a U-turn and including him in the England squad for their upcoming friendlies with Brazil and Belgium – after he had previously been named in the U21 squad.

Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet, Keane compared him to one of his former team-mates and it wasn’t Paul Scholes.

He said: ‘I’d say that Kobbie Mainoo compares more to Nicky Butt than Paul Scholes, but that’s because Scholes played further forward when he first joined Manchester United.

Roy Keane has compared the youngster to his former team-mate Nicky Butt (right)

The former United captain said that 18-year-old Mainoo has a ‘lot to learn’ in midfield

‘What makes these young players successful is their personalities and their temperament, so I would put Mainoo on par with Butt and Scholes in their first three months at the club.

‘It’s all about how players settle into the first team and how they cope with the challenges, playing at Old Trafford, but from what I’ve seen, Mainoo looks great, but he’s got lots to learn in that position.’

Butt was a member of United’s Class of 92 alongside Gary and Phill Neville, Scholes, David Beckham and Ryan Giggs. 

Butt made 387 appearances for the Red Devils before leaving for Newcastle in the summer of 2004. 

Mainoo’s performances has led to comparisons of him with Scholes, a sentiment echoed by former United striker Dimitar Berbatov last month. 

He was initially left out of the England squad last week with Gareth Southgate suggesting he had not played enough first-team games to warrant a place.

Southgate’s U-turn came after Mainoo’s excellent performance in United’s 4-3 victory over Liverpool.  

The teenager is now in contention to make his debut in Saturday’s friendly against Brazil or next week against Belgium and continue making his case for a place in the Euro 2024 squad.

Keane disagreed with comparisons to Paul Scholes, insisting Mainoo plays deeper than what his former team-mate did

Mainoo’s excellent performances have seen him rewarded with a senior England call-up

‘The timing could be right, he’s lucky [Mainoo] in terms of the timing. Because obviously Kalvin Phillips is having a difficult time, Jordan Henderson is getting a bit older,’ Keane continued.

‘So maybe that timing, and the best thing is when you get a player into your camp as you know in international football, ok he’s done well at Manchester United, but to look at him closely, with the other international players, we’ve all done it.

‘Like when Wayne Rooney came through, and when you get to see him up close you go, ‘I like what I see.’ And it could happen.’

Roy Keane was speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet