Kobbie Mainoo's hero growing up was Wayne Rooney – but he revealed he used to be compared to another ex-Manchester United star because of his hairstyle.
As a youngster coming through the United ranks, the club's all-time leading goalscorer and former England captain Rooney was Mainoo's idol.
But 19-year-old Mainoo, now a United star in his own right, revealed he used to be likened to a former Red Devil who he came up against last weekend.
Asked who his hero was as a child, Mainoo said: “Growing up? Rooney. But when I was younger I used to have a high top, so everyone said I looked like Danny Welbeck!”
Mainoo played against Brighton forward Welbeck, now 33, in United's 2-0 win at the Amex Stadium in last Sunday's final round of Premier League fixtures.
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"Yeah, I played against him last weekend," said Mainoo. "That was a bit mad!"
This season has been Mainoo's breakthrough campaign, his composure on the ball and goal scoring threat earning a regular starting place for United.
“I always liked time on the ball when I was younger,” said Mainoo. “I played futsal, so I always liked the ball at my feet and dribbling. I got comfortable from doing that and I started to take joy from running at players or shielding the ball from players.”
Mainoo was compared to Danny Welbeck as a youngster (Getty Images)Mainoo has scored four goals this season, the pick of them his last-gasp solo strike in a dramatic 4-3 win at Wolves and a curling effort in a 2-2 draw with arch rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford.
Recalling his goal at Wolves, Mainoo said: “When I got the ball, I just saw the defender coming out so I just wanted to [nut] meg him.
“Once I got the meg, I thought it had opened up and Omari [Forson] had made the run, so it was just on to get the shot on. So that was a nice first Premier League goal.”
Mainoo's goal against Liverpool was a carbon copy of Federico Macheda's wonder strike on his debut in 2009, to seal a 3-2 win over Aston Villa that helped United to win the title.
Kobbie Mainoo scored a stunner against Liverpool this season (Manchester United via Getty Imag)Unaware of the similarity between the two goals, Mainoo said: “I just saw the comparisons after.
"When the ball hit the back of the net, I was just celebrating a goal at Old Trafford against Liverpool. I was just thinking about that, but when I saw the comparisons it was mad to see.
“I could see my mum with my cousin in the crowd in front of me, that's who I blew a kiss to when I scored.”
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