Mainoo says which Man Utd legend is a 'template' for how a player should be

Kobbie Mainoo says which Manchester United legend is a "template" for how a player should be and the current two members of the squad who have helped him the most.

The United youth product has gone from strength to strength since Christmas, helping to achieve Champions League qualification and his performances saw him picked for England this summer.

Amorim could not find a way to fit Mainoo into his system, experimenting with him in different positions. Mainoo did not start a Premier League game this season until Amorim was sacked.

And then Michael Carrick immediately reinstated him to the starting team, and his sparkling form in the second half of the campaign played an important part in United clinching third place.

United have rewarded Mainoo with a new five-year contract to safeguard his future at Old Trafford.

Now Mainoo has revealed that Wayne Rooney is for him the best example of how a United player should be - and he always had him in his mind when trying to improve.

He said: "For me Rooney is the template for what a Manchester United player is because he was so hard working, his touch and technical.

"He could finish, he could do everything and so when the coach gives examples of what a Man Utd player is, in my mind was always Rooney because that is what it looked like to me because of how hardworking he was and good on the ball, how he led the team, the respect he showed."

And looking at his own development in the first team, he says that Fernandes and Casemiro have been the two who have helped him the most.

"Bruno and Casemiro for sure," he said. "Because even a few seasons ago when I wasn't playing, I was 17 when I made my debut, a couple of times I was playing but I was training with the first team every day.

"So I got to watch them closely and see what they did. I remember the first time I was shocked at the level and then I watched them and tried to dissect what they were doing and how they got in that space or that other, because I wasn't playing I had a lot of time.

"Training was my games so I was able to watch what they were doing very closely and try and implement it into my game, so as try and improve my game and adjust to the level quicker. Casemiro and Bruno, still now, I watch what they are doing and pick up things and they give me advice so I think those two have helped me the most for sure."