• Mainoo endeared himself to fans with a childhood photo of him in a United kit 
• Supporters lapped up his celebratory birthday pictures with enthusiasm
• If Erik ten Hag wins the FA Cup with Man United, does he deserve to keep his job? Listen to the It's All Kicking Off podcast 

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 Mainoo's rapper company. 

Mainoo has already played 24 times this season, capitalising on the wavering form of his seniors to earn a consistant place in Erik ten Hag's line-up.

He will be hoping for more joy on Sunday when United travel to Wembley to take on Coventry City in the FA Cups semi-finals. 

Championship side Coventry knocked out Wolves in the last eight to reach this stage and are no small fry, posing a potential banana skin to the Ten Hag administration.