Gareth Southgate clearly had the same thought as everyone else when he was watching Manchester United vs Liverpool on Sunday: “Wow. This Kobbie Mainoo is absolutely incredible.”
There was already clamour for Kobbie Mainoo to be in the England squad after his fantastic start to his senior career at Manchester United before the thrilling FA Cup tie but it couldn’t be denied afterwards.
Erik ten Hag has been a huge fan of the 18-year-old pretty much since he took over the club and only an injury-ravaged 2023 stopped him from being an even more established presence in the side.
Once Mainoo got over his ankle troubles in November, he pretty much hasn’t left the team since. He has started all but four of the last 21 games in all competitions and is keeping much more experienced players out of the side.
Christian Eriksen has expressed his frustrations over a lack of playing time this week but he has no argument when Mainoo is playing so incredibly well.
The all-action midfielder only played 70 minutes of the 120-minute epic against Liverpool but was still the stand-out player, a composed head amid the chaos.
It’s a performance that has sent his career on an even faster trajectory to greatness.
Kobbie Mainoo gets called up to the England squad
Gareth Southgate hadn’t named Mainoo in his England squad a few days earlier and spoke sense with his reasoning.
While making it clear Mainoo was doing ‘brilliantly’, he wanted to give the starlet space to develop and not rush things too soon for someone so young and inexperienced.
That stance changed after the Liverpool game and, despite no players dropping out, Mainoo was promoted to the seniors without even kicking a ball for the Under-21s.
Not even Jude Bellingham completely skipped Under-21 level (though he did play for them when he was just 16) and it shows just how much of a generational talent Mainoo is.
Though United’s No.37 is far more dynamic and forward-thinking than just a regular defensive midfielder, he is excellent at breaking up the play and launching attacks. He’s a player England have precious few of.
Mainoo is bad news for one Manchester City player
Excitement is rightly high about Mainoo’s call-up. England have an excellent squad that is rightly favourites to win Euro 2024.
There are weaknesses at centre-back, especially if John Stones or Harry Maguire get injured, but otherwise, the squad is fantastic.
Apart from a final slot in midfield. With Jordan Henderson and Kalvin Phillips’ rapid declines over the last two years, England were lacking in a quality, combative No.8 to complete the midfield.
With so few options, the obvious choice was to play Phil Foden in a central position.
The Manchester City star has been in sublime form this season and has thrived when given more opportunities to play centrally. He already has a career-best tally of 28 goal contributions in the campaign.
A midfield trio of Foden, Bellingham and Declan Rice sounds incredible but it was hard to see the cautious Southgate ever pulling the trigger.
Now with Mainoo in his immediate plans, that possibility has shrunk even further. Mainoo is the player Southgate has been desperately looking for to complete his midfield.
With Mainoo, he can add another fantastic passer who is effective in possession while keeping the defensive solidity that has served the Three Lions well under him.
Rice, Mainoo and Bellingham is a well-balanced trio on paper with everything you could need in a midfield.
Everyone wins, aside from Foden who may once again be frustrated he doesn’t get a central slot.
But, he’s also great on the left, so an attacking three of him, Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka is just as exciting.
Euro 2024 can’t come soon enough.
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