Roy Keane still has a doubt over Kobbie Mainoo at Manchester United, although admits he now only has one issue with the midfielder.
The 21-year-old was the hero at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon as he netted the winner in a 3-2 victory over Liverpool.
It was a rollercoaster game, with the Red Devils comfortable at 2-0 ahead at half-time, before falling apart and quickly finding themselves level before the hour-mark.
The game could have gone either way and it fell to Mainoo to win it, firing in the winner on 77 minutes from the edge of the box.
The England international does not score many, with that being his first of the season and his first in the Premier League since May 2024.
Ahead of the game on Sunday, Keane said he is waiting to be fully convinced by Mainoo, telling Sky Sports: ‘I’m still not convinced with him. I think he’s a really good young player, he’s still a kid, he’s only played 70-odd first team games.
‘He’s obviously been involved in the England squad, but he still hasn’t convinced me. I hope he does next year.
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‘I can be a harsh critic of midfield players, I was very critical of myself. I still think the kid has to do a lot more.
‘Has he got a chance? Of course he’s got a chance. He’s still learning.’
Following his performance against the Reds, Keane feels Mainoo has improved after his time out of the team under Ruben Amorim, as has been proved by his form under Michael Carrick.
However, the former Manchester United captain remains concerned that he does not have the pace to be a top level midfielder.
While he can learn to add other strings to his bow, Keane is not sure Mainoo can develop acceleration required in the engine room.
‘The last six months will be quite good for him. For a young player at a big club, he comes on the scene and getting all the headlines, doing well and then getting involved with England,’ said Keane.
‘The last few months, people have been talking about him going out on loan, but I always said that sometimes you have to sit and learn, watch the game and the team.
‘In football, there are good and bad experiences and I’ll think he’ll learn from this last few months than when he first got into the team.
‘He’s had to mature, he’s got his new deal, he’s had to learn his trade. He’s a young player, he’s still learning, he’s got years before he even peaks.
‘He’s surrounded by experienced players, hopefully they’re helping him, so it’s been no bad thing.
‘The only problem is, when people talk about if he’s explosive enough, can you improve on that if you’re not quick off the mark?’
The relationship between Mainoo and Carrick is clearly a good one, with the current England midfielder full of praise for the former one.
‘He’s played a huge part in it, all the confidence he gives all the players,’ Mainoo told Sky Sports of his and Manchester United’s resurgence. ‘You want to follow him and fight for him and die for him on the pitch.’
The win over Liverpool guarantees a return to Champions League football for the Red Devils and improves Carrick’s chances of getting the manager’s job on a permanent basis.