Gareth Southgate has just announced his England squad for the upcoming friendly games, with Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo missing out. Here’s why.
Southgate was tasked with picking his England side for the upcoming friendly games against Belgium and Brazil.
He decided to include Marcus Rashford and Harry Maguire – but left out academy graduate turned first-team superstar, Kobbie Mainoo.
He explained why in his press conference.
Gareth Southgate explains why Kobbie Mainoo isn’t in England squad
Speaking in his press conference following the announcement at 2 PM – Southgate explained why Mainoo has been left out.
“He’s doing brilliantly for a young player. We’re never slow to put a young player into the seniors but he’s only had a handful of games,” he begins. “He’s getting some fabulous experience at Man Utd, he looks really good character”.
Southgate elaborated that he does have his eye on him, but he’ll be joining up with the under-21s instead for now: “We obviously have contingency plans in every area of the pitch, some of those will be with the Under-21s.
“There are some players in the Under-21’s who are doing exceptionally well, especially in midfield… the likes of Kobbie Mainoo, Harvey Elliott, Rico [Lewis], who was with us last time, Archie Gray at Leeds, who are doing very, very well, I have to say.”
Not this time for Kobbie. This is not necessarily a bad thing for Mainoo, or in fact Manchester United.
This isn’t a bad thing for Kobbie Mainoo
Time and time again, a young starlet has emerged in the Premier League and been rushed into the international limelight far too quickly.
Take David Beckham and Wayne Rooney as prime examples of this – both from a Manchester United standpoint.
The pressure immediately piled on their backs is ludicrous, and something Mainoo definitely doesn’t need right now whilst times are tough at Old Trafford.
We’re 100% certain Mainoo’s time will come – but Southgate got this one right, Mainoo was right to be left out.