Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo has been called up to England’s squad for their upcoming international fixtures against Brazil and Belgium.
Mainoo has been one of United’s most impressive performers this season despite being ruled out for the first few months of the campaign with a foot injury he sustained in pre-season. The 18-year-old has featured in his side’s last 16 matches across all competitions.
Mainoo had been selected to be part of England’s Under-21 squad — his first call-up at that level — for their upcoming fixtures against Azerbaijan and Luxembourg, but he has now been promoted to Gareth Southgate’s senior set-up.
Mainoo has previously represented England at under-17 through to under-19 level and in February, Southgate revealed that Mainoo was being monitored for a senior England call-up.
Asked about a potential call-up for Mainoo when the England squad was initially announced last week, Southgate said: “I think that he’s doing brilliantly for a young player and we’re never slow to put a young player into seniors. But he’s only had a handful of games and you have to be very careful development-wise in making those decisions at the right time.
“So we think ideally, we should allow him that space to develop at his own speed. He’s not at the point in terms of number of games that Jude (Bellingham) and Bukayo (Saka) were when they came in for the first time.
“But I repeat: he’s doing really well for a young player. He’s a good footballer — you can see that. And he’s getting some fabulous experience with Manchester United at the moment. And he looks a really good character.”
England squad 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 (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kyle Walker (Manchester City).
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Jordan Henderson (Ajax), James Maddison (Tottenham), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Declan Rice (Arsenal).
Forwards: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ivan Toney (Brentford), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa).
Key dates
- Wednesday, March 20 — open training
- Saturday, March 23 — England vs Brazil (Wembley Stadium)
- Tuesday, March 26 — England vs Belgium (Wembley Stadium)
(Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
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