Kobbie Mainoo Gets England Call - Could Debut vs Brazil

John Eastwood

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Last updated: 22 Mar 2024

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John Eastwood 22 Mar 2024

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Man Utd’s 18-year-old midfielder has been promoted to the senior England squad
The Stockport-born midfielder has started the last 12 league matches for United
Mainoo had previously only been capped at under 19 international level

Kobbie Mainoo during a training session with the England national football team (Getty Images).

Southgate Promotes Mainoo

After initially only being named in the England under-21 squad, Gareth Southgate changed his mind and called up Kobbie Mainoo to the main squad.
Southgate Promotes Mainoo
Roy Keane Compares Mainoo to Nicky Butt
What Southgate Said Initially
England Squad vs Brazil in full

The teenager has been selected ahead of Kalvin Phillips and will be competing with Declan Rice, Conor Gallagher and Jordan Henderson for minutes in a deeper midfield role.

Roy Keane Compares Mainoo to Nicky Butt

Former Man Utd captain, Roy Keane has compared Kobbie Mainoo to Nicky Butt. Whilst there have been comparisons to Paul Scholes, Keane seems most similarities to Butt.

The Irish pundit said:

“I’d say that Kobbie Mainoo compares more to Nicky Butt than Paul Scholes, but that’s because Scholes played further forward when he first joined Manchester United.

“What makes these young players successful is their personalities and their temperament, so I would put Mainoo on par with Butt and Scholes in their first three months at the club.”

What Southgate Said Initially

Gareth Southgate did not select Mainoo when he first named his squad for this FIFA break. He was picked for the England under-21s by Lee Carsley instead.

The England mentor explained that decision last week by saying:

"I think Kobbie is doing brilliantly for a young player," said Southgate. "We're never slow to put a young player into the seniors, but he's only had a handful of games. You have to be careful in making those decisions at the right time, and ideally, we should allow him the space to develop at his own speed.”

England Squad vs Brazil in full

Goalkeepers: Sam Johnstone (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal).

Defenders: Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton), Ben Chilwell (Chelsea), Lewis Dunk (Brighton), Joe Gomez (Liverpool), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Harry Maguire (Man Utd), John Stones (Man City), Kyle Walker (Man City).

Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Jordan Henderson (Ajax), James Maddison (Tottenham), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Kobbie Mainoo (Man Utd).

Forwards: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham), Phil Foden (Man City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Marcus Rashford (Man United), Ivan Toney (Brentford), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa).

Graduated from the University of Portsmouth in 2008 with a BA in English Literature before completing MA in Journalism. Began his career as a sports journalist in London before moving to the Middle East to work as a sports editor for national media companies in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Favourite Sports: Tennis, Boxing, Golf.