Kobbie Mainoo's rise has been stratospheric, and now he's been tipped to take the next step.

It is barely a year into Kobbie Mainoo's career in senior football and already he is firmly established as the best midfielder at Manchester United.

Mainoo is ranked in the top five most exciting teenage talents in world football and it is easy to see why as the Stockport-born No.37 plays well beyond his years.

Nicky Butt has already warned Ineos that Mainoo will be a "very wanted" player in years to come which could make keeping him tricky if improvements are not made.

The arrival of Ugarte is likely to be of huge benefit to Mainoo, allowing the Englishman to focus on his ability further up the pitch.

Now, Mainoo has been tipped to wear the United armband by Emmanuel Petit.

The former midfielder had plenty of harsh words for Bruno, explaining the Portuguese Magnifico annoys him with his on-field antics.

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He then suggested that he'd take the captain's armband off Bruno and when asked who he would rather have it, he concluded Mainoo would be a good fit, although there is one problem.

"It's hard to find because the best player so far this season is the youngest one (Kobbie Mainoo), or even (Alejandro) Garnacho.

"I think Mainoo has the potential to wear the armband but he's too young."

Mainoo at just 19 is too young and inexperienced to be a captain, however, he does possess a lot of the main qualities that a captain should have and leads by example even if his youth means he cannot necessarily lead the likes of Casemiro.

If Mainoo does go on to be United captain in his career, he would be following in the footsteps of the likes of Gary Neville and Sir Bobby Charlton who were academy graduates who went on to captain the club.

How Manuel Ugarte will help United's No.37 This season so far, Mainoo has ranked highly in defensive numbers, something he should not necessarily be doing considering he is more of a number eight than a six.

But due to the form of Casemiro, he has almost been forced into the graveyard shift, covering for the deficiencies in the Brazilian's game.

With the arrival of Ugarte, this could all change with the Uruguayan's main qualities being at covering space, interceptions, making tackles and winning duels - something which should give Mainoo more freedom rather than having to almost play multiple roles in the midfield.

Ugarte showed this during the international break for Uruguay, so we cannot wait to see him in the United midfield.

It could be Ugarte who allows Mainoo to push on and finally take his game up a level.