Ex-Manchester United striker Louis Saha says the comparisons between Kobbie Mainoo and Paul Pogba are wide of the mark.

The teenager has often been likened to the French World Cup winner but, when speaking about his style of play, Saha told Betfred that he has more in common with two Barcelona legends:

“On the ball, he’s got a bit of a mix of Xavi and Sergio Busquets about him when he goes forward, but he doesn’t necessarily have the body of a Marouane Fellaini or Paul Pogba.”

“Kobbie has shown that he can play well consistently, and people can play around him, so it’s very good to have a player of his talent, and he’s capable of playing under pressure and providing the wingers with the opportunity to compete in one-on-one situations. Hopefully, he can continue to improve over the next few years.”

You can see why the United starlet was initially compared to Pogba

Mainoo is an excellent ball carrier so you can see the thought process behind why many believed that he could develop into a similar player to Paul Pogba but, as Saha says, he does lack the physicality of the Frenchman.

His diminutive stature (he’s 5ft 9) means that he will have to rely more on his technical ability and speed of thought, much like Xavi used to. Of course, it remains to be seen if he can scale the same heights as the Spanish legend.

The hype around Mainoo has gone into overdrive

With the 18-year-old set to start his first game for England against Belgium, the excitement about the player’s potential has reached fever pitch.

Mainoo is undoubtedly a very promising young talent but it is important to remember that there is still plenty for him to do in order to reach the highest level.