Mainoo posts throwback childhood snap in Man Utd top to mark his 19th birthday

Kobbie Mainoo shared a heartwarming snap of him in a Manchester United kit as a child to celebrate his 19th birthday and endear himself even more to fans.

The precocious midfielder has had an outstanding breakthrough season and can do no wrong with the United fanbase at the moment.

Such is the adoration for Mainoo - who may well have a place in England's 2024 Euros squad on his bucket list -  that even him posting on social media has become a mini-event.

To mark his birthday, Mainoo shared a photo of him looking eminently cool reclining in a garden chair wearing shades as a young boy, alongside other memories, on Instagram.

He wrote: '+1, thanks for the messages.'

The kit in that picture showed him wearing the Nike-produced AIG kit, which Manchester United had between 2006 and 2010.

Elsewhere in the post, he is seen relaxing in a car park with a suspiciously light blue jumper on, playing and training for United, and hanging out in yet another car park - or maybe the same one - donning a Balenciaga jacket.

If that wasn't enough, he showed photos of him chilling with his Love Island brother, Jordan Maino-Hames, and rapper Reubz, as well as him getting a tattoo.

Admirers flooded the comments section, including team-mate Amad Diallo, who wrote: 'HBD my little Kobbs.'

Streamer Angry Ginge, who was recently on the receiving end of a crude insult from Wayne Rooney, wrote: 'Happy birthday brother.'

And who could forget Benni McCarthy, formerly of Blackburn and West Ham repute, who is now an attacking coach with United. 'Happy Birthday Kobes,' he wrote.

'Why is everything he does so clean?' said one fan.

'The slide with the young you is mood! GGMU!' another commented.

'Bro knows tunes fr [for real],' one added, seemingly impressed by