With talent and maturity beyond his years, Kobbie Mainoo showed why he's the future of Man United's midfield... and the 19-year-old is proving every inch the answer to Gareth Southgate's conundrum too, writes SAMI MOKBEL

Swaggering smoothly along Wembley’s hallowed turf liked he owned the joint, Kobbie Mainoo has never looked more at home.

The question is: will Gareth Southgate give this outrageously talented kid from Stockport the keys to his midfield?

Never mind his goal, although the clarity of mind he so ruthlessly showed to execute Manchester United’s winner on a triumphant day flies in the face of his fledgling status.

But there’s just something about this boy that told you he wouldn’t fold, his self-assuredness smacks you square in the face.

And then you remember; he’s only 19.

We often tell our youth not to rush into growing up - clearly Mainoo didn’t get the memo.

Maturity way beyond his years. Man of the match, all in a congested engine room consisting of Rodri and Mateo Kovacic.

Unflustered, he played his own game, more than holding his own to emerge from the sweltering heat of battle with his arms aloft - his first winners medal tucked away nicely in his back pocket. There’ll be more to come, too.

‘Last year I was in the stands,’ Mainoo reminisced during frenzied scenes at full-time.

‘[It means] absolutely everything. It's been a tough season with ups and downs and this is the only thing we’ve had to look forward to.

‘We knew we had to come together. The preparation for this game has been amazing. We’ve shown we can compete and win games.'

Constantly scanning the landscape, repeatedly looking over his shoulders in search of hazards; Mainoo’s management in his first major final was a sight to behold.

Controlling the tempo and patterns for United with the air of a seasoned midfield campaigner.

One or two touch passing. Collecting the ball on the half-turn. Balls into feet. Passes over the top. Short passes. Long passes.

In the 94th minute, with his team shakily grasping a 2-1 advantage, Mainoo carried the ball towards the half-way line before accurately releasing to Rasmus Hojland to relieve the pressure.

Thirty seconds later he was hooking clear deep inside his own box . At the heart of United’s most significant day of the season.

At Wembley, on the biggest stage, Mainoo demonstrated the full repertoire.

Whatever fate lies ahead for Erik ten Hag, there should be doubting his handling of Mainoo.

Unquestionably one of the triumphs of the Dutchman’s checkered reign. It takes nerve to throw a teenager into the blood and thunder of Premier League football.

But fortune favours the brave and, here at Wembley, Ten Hag was paid in full for showing the backbone to throw Mainoo in at the deep end.

The future of United’s midfield, with or without Ten Hag. Surely, he’s en route to becoming the future of England’s midfield, too.

With just three weeks to go until England’s Euro 2024 journey gets underway, there is a perception that Southgate’s jigsaw is missing a vital piece.

On this evidence, Mainoo looks every inch the answer to England’s midfield conundrum.

Southgate, flanked by his assistant Steve Holland, was here to witness Mainoo’s brilliance first hand. The performance that booked his place on the plane to Germany when Southgate cuts the 33-man squad he named on Tuesday to 26.

But moreover, was this the showing that secured his place in the starting XI when England face Serbia on June 16?

The clamour for that to be the case will hit the roof after this.

Declan Rice’s defensive instincts. Jude Bellingham’s attacking dynamism. All complemented by Mainoo’s poise.

A recipe for success, surely Southgate will be tempted by a helping.

‘Here in England, you’re very good to push players too high and then you hammer them with one or two bad performances,’ said Ten Hag.

If Ten Hag is trying to quell the hype, then he’s fighting a losing battle.

At full time, Mainoo, arm in arm with partner-in-crime Alejandro Garnacho, sprinted towards United's jubilant supporters.

The symbolism of it was inescapable; the two players this troubled club will build their future on.

If Garnacho offers the stardust, then Mainoo provides the foundation.

‘Incredible,’ was Garnacho’s concise answer when asked about his brilliant team-mate.

‘The best player in the squad and he’s the youngest.'

The best player? You won’t find too many at United who will argue. The stage is set for Mainoo to prove his worth to England.