Man Utd’s Kobbie Mainoo set for promotion in England with Gareth Southgate as a big fan
England manager Gareth Southgate watched Mainoo play at Villa Park on Sunday, as United secured their third consecutive league win. Mainoo, a midfielder, played for 92 minutes before being substituted by Sofyan Amrabat. It has been reported that Southgate will recommend Mainoo, who has previously represented England Under-19s, to be called up by Under-21s boss Lee Carsley for upcoming qualifiers.
The England Under-21 team will face Azerbaijan and Luxembourg in qualifiers for the Euro 2025 tournament next month. Mainoo is also eligible to represent Ghana, and there is speculation that Southgate might consider introducing him to the senior team, as England has no competitive action in March and will play friendlies against Brazil and Belgium. With England already securing their place at Euro 2024 in Germany, Southgate is likely to experiment with the squad, potentially providing an opportunity for Mainoo to showcase his talent.
Mainoo, who suffered an injury during his club’s pre-season tour of America, made his first league start on November 26 and has since become a regular starter, scoring his first United goal in an FA Cup win at Newport County in January. Former Man United defender Rio Ferdinand has compared Mainoo to former Holland playmaker Clarence Seedorf and has been among those who have praised his performances. Given Southgate’s emphasis on selecting in-form players, Mainoo’s chances of being included in the squad for Euro 2024 should not be discounted.
After the international break next month, England is scheduled to play Bosnia and Iceland in June before their tournament opener against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen on June 16. It is believed that Mainoo’s inclusion in the squad could accelerate his development.
