• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Gareth Southgate set to hold talks with Kobbie Mainoo as England face competition for Man Utd midfielder

Home> Football> Football News

Updated 15:46 27 Nov 2023 GMTPublished 15:43 27 Nov 2023 GMT

Gareth Southgate set to hold talks with Kobbie Mainoo as England face competition for Man Utd midfielder

Kobbie Mainoo is still eligible to switch his international allegiance.

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare

Gareth Southgate is expected to hold talks with Kobbie Mainoo in the hope of persuading Manchester United's highly-rated midfielder to play for England, say reports.

The 18-year-old, born in Stockport, Greater Manchester, has represented the Three Lions at multiple age levels.

He recently captained England U19's to victory in the annual Marbella Cup, where he provided two assists for Simon Rusk's side as they thumped Mexico 7-1 in the final.

Advert

And a few days later, Mainoo ran the show for Manchester United in their Premier League clash against Everton – a game in which Roy Keane described his near-perfect performance as "outstanding".

The United youth product has certainly made an impression since being handed his first-team debut earlier this year.

In fact, after Sunday's outing at Goodison Park, it appears Gareth Southgate is 'desperate' to see Mainoo pledge his future to England as he remains eligible to play for Ghana through his parents.

Advert

Mainoo could be fast-tracked into England U21 squad to speed up the process, according to the Daily Star, but that would not guarantee his future.

FIFA rules state that players can switch allegiances as long as they have played three senior matches or less, and those appearances came when they were under the age of 21.

In addition to the above, there must also have been a period of three years in between a player’s last match for the country they wish to switch from.

None of those three games can come at a World Cup finals, or the equivalent at confederation level.

Advert

Kobbie Mainoo was outstanding against Everton. Image credit: Getty
Kobbie Mainoo was outstanding against Everton. Image credit: Getty

As mentioned earlier, former Manchester United captain Roy Keane was full of praise for Mainoo after Sunday's full-time whistle.

“Unbelievable, I don't want to get too carried away but I'm sure we will,” he said. “He looked like he always had time on the ball and decision-making - when to go long, when to go short. Off the ball as well, what an all-round performance.

"I know the club thinks highly of him. They'll look to the game today, coming to Everton, for the manager to put him in, he obviously must trust him.

Advert

“Listen, good luck to the kid. He was outstanding. It's a great start for him. Let's hope he stays injury-free and gets a run of games for Man United because he looked like a Man United type of player today. Nice and brave, a lot of courage, loved watching him.”

Featured Image Credit: Getty Images

Topics: Gareth Southgate, England, Kobbie Mainoo, Manchester United, Premier League

Jack Kenmare
Jack Kenmare

Jack is a Senior Journalist who enjoys a long read. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of Football Manager wonderkids from 2005 to the present day, and has interviewed a handful of FM's finest, including Freddy Adu, Supat Rungratsamee and Mika Aaritalo.

X

@jackkenmare_

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

2 hours ago
11 hours ago
  • 2 hours ago

    Players who could leave Lyon after relegation to Ligue 2 confirmed as club release damning statement

    Lyon have been demoted to Ligue 2 due to their financial situation.

    Football
  • 2 hours ago

    Liverpool fans beg the club to keep Darwin Nunez after seeing his dramatic new look ahead of summer move away

    Darwin Nunez has been linked with a move away from Liverpool.

    Football
  • 2 hours ago

    Ben Foster revealed the holiday destination that is always 'heaving with footballers'

    The exotic island is 'heaving with footballers', according to Ben Foster.

    Football
  • 11 hours ago

    Major twist in Marcus Rashford's future emerges as club drop bombshell on summer deal

    The future of the Man United star may finally have been decided.

    Football
  • Gareth Southgate has applied for surprise managerial job with two conditions set for ex-England boss to take role
  • Gareth Southgate rejected for national team job as FA chief explains why they turned down former England manager
  • Kobbie Mainoo reveals he eats the same exact meal before every Man Utd and England match
  • Gareth Southgate set to make significant change to his England line-up to face Slovakia