Kobbie Mainoo

Mainoo receives passes with defenders closing in from behind and still manages to turn cleanly, using a low centre of gravity to shield the ball before opponents can properly commit to a challenge. Once he has space he drives forward with the ball at his feet, covering ground through midfield rather than recycling possession sideways. His passing under pressure stays accurate too, picking out a forward run with an opponent right on top of him.

The tension around Mainoo is durability, because a young midfielder who carries this much of United's build-up absorbs a lot of physical contact across a long campaign. He has already missed stretches through injury, which raises real questions about how his body copes with the demands placed on it this early. Watch how United manage his minutes, because protecting him now matters more than any single eye-catching performance.