Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo could win his first England cap, after getting the call-up to Gareth Southgate's side
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Manchester United starlet Kobbie Mainoo is to be called up to the senior England squad.
The midfielder has 13 appearances for England's youth team but is yet to feature in Gareth Southgate's thinking, until now – as first confirmed by Manchester United – following his breakout season in the Premier League. There was talk of Mainoo getting the chance this time around following stellar form – but he was originally called up to the youth side instead.
Gareth Southgate has picked Kobbie Mainoo for his full squad for the friendlies against Brazil and Belgium (Image credit: Eddie Keogh - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
Despite his appearances for England's youth teams, however, Mainoo is also eligible to play for Ghana through ancestry. Most recently, Brighton star Tariq Lamptey opted to switch his allegiance to represent the Black Stars at the 2022 World Cup.
Mainoo has played 15 times this season and scored once, ousting Christian Eriksen from manager Erik ten Hag's best first XI. After netting his sole strike of the campaign against Wolves, Mainoo was compared to legendary midfielder Clarence Seedorf, by pundit, Rio Ferdinand.
Rio Ferdinand thinks highly of Mainoo (Image credit: Visionhaus/Getty Images)
The Manchester United star has six appearances at under-19 level thus far in his career but has been tipped for a huge future.
Mark White has been at on FourFourTwo since joining in January 2020, first as a staff writer before becoming content editor in 2023. An encyclopedia of football shirts and boots knowledge – both past and present – Mark has also represented FFT at both FA Cup and League Cup finals (though didn't receive a winners' medal on either occasion) and has written pieces for the mag ranging on subjects from Bobby Robson's season at Barcelona to Robinho's career. He has written cover features for the mag on Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard, and is assisted by his cat, Rosie, who has interned for the brand since lockdown.
