Rio Ferdinand praised 18-year-old Kobbie Mainoo after his stoppage-time goal helped Manchester United win 4-3 away at Wolves on Thursday.

The visitors appeared to have control of the game at Molineux, but were pegged back in extra time until Mainoo’s late finish.

Ferdinand expressed his admiration for Mainoo’s performance shortly after the victory, with the young defensive midfielder now making eight consecutive starts for Manchester United.

Ferdinand told TNT Sports that Mainoo deserved the enormous acclaim he has earned thus far, comparing him to a game icon.

‘I’m not saying he has the same skill or that he is that player yet, but you give me the vibes of Clarence Seedorf,’ Ferdinand stated.

‘The way you can move in tight situations, and how he manipulates his ball, using his body at times, but then shifting it and just popping it through [Max] Kilman’s legs there. Beautiful.

‘He can also be elusive at times. Just the control and awareness to choose his position there. Some players see the headlights and the back pages and decide to go for it. He simply caressed it.’

Seedorf is regarded as one of history’s best midfielders, having won the Champions League with three different clubs: Ajax, Real Madrid, and twice at AC Milan.

Joleon Lescott, a fellow pundit and former Wolves defender, also commented on Mainoo.

“He’s consistently composed all the way through that,” Lescott said. “And you might not see it now, but what’s important in that action is the starting position.”

‘I believe he was simply behind the ball. So when it breaks down, he’s in an ideal position to restart the attack.

Marcus Rashford scored within the first five minutes of his return to the Manchester United club after disciplinary punishment, and Rasmus Hojlund made it 2-0 at halftime.

A contentious penalty gave the hosts hope, and Scott McTominay appeared to have sealed it at 3-1 with 15 minutes left.

However, Kilman’s 85th-minute goal set up a tight finish, with Pedro Neto appearing to have salvaged a point for Wolves until Mainoo’s late strike.

Manchester United return to action on Sunday afternoon, hosting West Ham, before traveling to Aston Villa seven days later.