Ten Hag promises minutes for Mainoo

The local lad enjoyed an excellent pre-season campaign before a luckless injury suffered in the friendly against Real Madrid, soon after kick-off.

Erik ten Hag has clearly been impressed by the 18-year-old's maturity and has admitted he is considering bringing him back into the fold. Although Saturday's Premier League clash at Sheffield United appears unlikely to feature the Academy product, Tuesday's UEFA Champions League encounter with FC Copenhagen may provide an opportunity.

"He is close," the manager said at his press conference to preview the Bramall Lane fixture this weekend.

"He is already training with us. Not today but I think, next week, he will have some minutes in the team. So then he can catch up his game minutes. So he is really improving and ready to get back in the squad for games."

Mainoo has made three senior appearances, to date, in his fledgling career.

The teenager made his debut against Charlton Athletic, during our successful Carabao Cup run, before facing Reading in the Emirates FA Cup fourth-round tie and Leicester City at Premier League level. 

United won all three games and the midfielder made a positive impression.

Although there is intense competition for places in the engine room, Casemiro is suspended for the Copenhagen clash, following his red card in the defeat to Galatasaray, last time out in Europe.

It could open the door for Mainoo to get involved, at some stage of Tuesday's tie, with the Manchester derby against City to follow on Sunday 29 October (15:30 BST kick-off).