Michael Carrick told he has the ‘league’s best’ for two stunning feats after first five Premier League matches

Although Manchester United have endured a turbulent start to the term, Kobbie Mainoo has continued to excel in the middle of the park.

The 21-year-old has started four of the five Premier League matches played thus far, having missed out on a start in the opening-day clash away to Hull City – and that was only because he had a shorter pre-season following England’s late World Cup involvement.

What’s been said about Kobbie Mainoo?

Now, LiveScore has singled out Mainoo for praise after analysing his top-flight statistics from the last month of action.

The outlet hailed him as the ‘league’s best ball-winner and most accurate passer’ before sharing that Mainoo has won possession 40 times already, as well as recorded a total passing accuracy of 94 per cent.

Indeed, the Carrington graduate has completed a whopping 278 of his 296 passes attempted, ranking him above all of his counterparts across the division before gameweek six.

Who will partner Mainoo moving forward?

It goes without saying that it would be in Michael Carrick’s best interests to keep Mainoo firmly cemented in his starting XI.

However, with Carlos Baleba now awaiting his maiden start of 2026/2027 after recovering from his injury setback, one midfielder will need to be sacrificed – and it’s likely to be Youri Tielemans.

The Belgium captain has been deployed from the off in each league outing, but could well fall behind Baleba, who became United’s most expensive summer signing when he moved in a £70 million switch from Brighton and Hove Albion, in the pecking order.

Alas, it’ll be interesting to see what side Carrick deploys when United return to action on Saturday evening, with Tottenham Hotspur preparing to make the trip to Old Trafford in a 5.30pm kick-off.