Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo called up to senior England squad

Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo called up to senior England squad

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Manchester United’s sensational 18-year-old Kobbie Mainoo has been called up to England’s senior squad for the first time, boosting his chances of selection for Euro 2024.

Mainoo is enjoying a breakout season at Old Trafford, where he has become an integral part of the first team under manager Erik ten Hag. The teenager, who joined United aged nine, was exceptional in Sunday’s dramatic FA Cup quarter-final victory over Liverpool, illustrating his remarkable ability to perform at the highest level at such a young age.

All the other 25 England squad members reported to St George’s Park on Tuesday for the upcoming friendlies with Brazil and Belgium at Wembley – the final fixtures before Gareth Southgate names his provisional squad for Euro 2024 in May – and Mainoo has now joined the group.

The fact that no injuries have been reported in the England camp would suggest that Mainoo has not been drafted in as a replacement and that Southgate may simply have had second thoughts about the midfielder, who was excluded from the original squad named last week.

Central midfield is a position of concern for the England manager, given the questionable form of Jordan Henderson and Kalvin Phillips this season. Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher and Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold are both options to play alongside Declan Rice in the centre, but there is a concerning lack of depth in the two deeper-lying roles that Southgate prefers.

Kobbie Mainoo poses for photos at St George’s Park after his late call-up

(The FA via Getty Images)

There had been a growing clamour for Mainoo to be given a chance at senior international level, having played for England’s youth teams. But his exclusion from this camp seemed to suggest that Southgate was not willing to throw such a young player into the spotlight ahead of a major tournament.

Now, though, Mainoo may well make his England debut in one of the two friendly games, and he stands a real chance of earning selection for the Euros in Germany.

England play Brazil on Saturday before taking on the Belgians next Tuesday.

more to follow…

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