Kobbie Mainoo is on the fringes of the first team (Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has tipped Kobbie Mainoo to break into the first team following Alejandro Garnacho’s new deal at the club.

The Argentine was rewarded with a new five-year deal earlier this week after a fantastic breakthrough campaign at Old Trafford.

Garnacho made his debut for the club last April but he has been the matchwinner for United at times this season, scoring five goals and providing six assists in 31 appearances.

The winger is the latest in a long line of academy graduates to make the grade at Old Trafford, following the likes of Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood and Scott McTominay in recent years.
Jimmy Murphy – who was instrumental in rebuilding the club following the 1958 Munich Air Disaster – will be honoured today with a statue outside Old Trafford.

And, in a discussion about the culture of promoting youth at Old Trafford, Ten Hag let slip that he believes Mainoo will be the next player to go into the first team.

Mainoo signed a new deal at the club earlier this year (Photo by Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)

‘I know the culture of Man United, I knew before. Of course, I was long employed in youth football,’ said Ten Hag.

‘I met several times Man United in big tournaments in the Netherlands. We have a big tournament in under-15s, Man United was alway...