Manchester United’s rising star, Kobbie Mainoo, has showcased exceptional talent this season but was notably absent from Thursday’s training session.

Kobbie Mainoo likely experienced a humbling reminder of his humanity when he fell ill this week. His recent achievements include making his full England debut against Belgium at Wembley on Tuesday night, where his composed performance earned him the Man of the Match award. Considering he only made his first start for United in November, these past four months have undoubtedly been unforgettable for the youngster.

Mainoo was gradually introduced to action with the Under-21s, starting with a game against Salford in October, and by the end of March, he was representing his national team. His journey has been a delight to observe, prompting discussions with his representatives about a new contract to acknowledge his increasing significance, even though he had only signed a fresh deal last year.

Erik ten Hag has entrusted Mainoo with starting roles in 11 out of United’s 12 games across all competitions in 2024, solidifying his position as one of the first names on the team sheet. It’s noteworthy that Mainoo is in contention for the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award despite missing the start of the campaign, a testament to his remarkable impact since breaking into the side.

Mainoo’s presence significantly enhances United’s performance, and his potential inclusion in England’s Euro 2024 squad at just 19 years old would mark a remarkable achievement. However, there’s a slight concern that United might have to do without Mainoo for their upcoming match against Brentford on Saturday night, which would undoubtedly be a significant setback for the team.

Training photos were released by United on Thursday, but Mainoo was notably absent. In the latter part of his press conference, Ten Hag was questioned about an update regarding Mainoo’s situation : “”Yesterday he skipped training because he was ill. I don’t know [if he will be fit for Brentford]. We hope. Today he is there [in training], not fully recovered but we still have many hours before tomorrow with kick-off at 8pm.”