Mainoo in contention for Goal of the Month
Kobbie Mainoo’s memorable individual effort at Wolverhampton Wanderers is one of eight strikes nominated for the Premier League’s Goal of the Month award.
Mainoo’s brilliant run and curled finish ensured United began February in winning fashion, at the very end of a rollercoaster meeting at Molineux.
Erik ten Hag’s side seemed to be cruising to victory when 3-1 up with five minutes to play, after Scott McTominay had headed home with virtually his first touch after coming on as a substitute.
But Max Kilman bundled in to halve the deficit and Pedro Neto hit us on the counter to draw the home side level in added time, to seemingly leave the Reds ruing two dropped points.
There was another twist in the tale, however, and it came courtesy of 18-year-old Mainoo, who opened his top-flight account in the grand manner.
All The Angles: Mainoo v Wolves
All The Angles | Seriously, Kobbie Mainoo’s winner at Molineux gets better and better with every watch…
Receiving the ball under pressure almost 30 yards from goal, the Academy graduate evaded Joao Gomes, dealt Kilman a cute nutmeg and found himself bearing down on the Wolves area.
There were still four old-gold-shirted defenders between him and Jose Sa, but what Mainoo did next was simply brilliant, as he edged inside, opened up his body and found the bottom corner with consummate ease.
The clock had just ticked beyond the 97th minute, but you wouldn’t have known it with the composure shown by Kobbie – a trait which extended to his nonchalant celebration.
Unsurprisingly, Mainoo named it as his favourite goal (so far!) in his wide-ranging Playing With Freedom interview, released earlier this week.
“Obviously, the Wolves goal, that was crazy,” he told reporter Harry Robinson, when asked about his standout Reds moment.
“I’ve watched it a few hundred times so it’s sunk in!
“To be honest, I hadn't thought about it [the celebration] or anything. It just felt right when I scored it, you know. It was a nice clutch moment.”
Kobbie Mainoo | Playing With Freedom
PLAYING WITH FREEDOM | In Kobbie's first major interview, we take a trip down memory lane with a team of awestruck U8s…
Kobbie is up against these seven other great goals, in his bid to emulate the achievements of team-mates Bruno Fernandes and Alejandro Garnacho earlier this season:
To give our no.37 the best chance of winning, cast your vote for him in the Premier League poll.
REDS UP FOR FEBRUARY AWARDS
As well as Kobbie's nomination for Goal of the Month, Ten Hag is up for the Premier League's Manager of the Month accolade.
Rasmus Hojlund, who has netted seven times in his last six league fixtures, is also nominated for the Player of the Month award.
Andre Onana's save against West Ham is up for the Save of the Month, rounding off a quartet of nominations for the Reds.
Make sure to cast you votes for Rasmus, Erik and Andre on the official Premier League website too.