Gareth Southgate is a man with many options when it comes to team selection.
Aside from Luis Enrique and Didier Deschamps, arguably none of their European counterparts can boast the same embarrassment of riches in the middle of the park.
It is simultaneously the reason why England will travel to Germany as one of the teams to beat at the Euros this summer and why Southgate admitted earlier this month that midfield was the most difficult area of the pitch to balance.
Kobbie Mainoo’s emergence may go a long way toward replenishing the one cupboard that has often been relatively empty during Southgate’s tenure.
The Manchester United midfielder made his debut for England in the 1-0 defeat to Brazil at Wembley on Saturday and will make his first start against Belgium on Tuesday night.
Kobbie Mainoo is in line to make his first start for England against Belgium on Tuesday night.
The 18-year-old made his debut for the Three Lions against Brazil on Saturday at Wembley.
Southgate received his first senior England call-up last week and was handed his cap by Gareth Southgate on Sunday.
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After replacing Conor Gallagher late in the second half, the Stockport-born teenager completed 100 per cent of his 18 passes in an eye-catching cameo.
Playing higher up than Declan Rice, the teenager played with the poise and calm of a man 10 years his senior.
It was a familiar sight to anyone who has seen him at United this season, where he has brought a degree of control to a team with an almost chronic penchant for frenetic football.
Take the winner against Wolves for example. With United shaken by conceding a last-minute equaliser, Mainoo simply ran past three defenders before slotting the ball into the bottom corner.
Against Luton two weeks later, it was eye-opening to see the 18-year-old speak at length to five-time Champions League winner Casemiro after the Brazilian twice risked being sent off with wild lunges while receiving a yellow card. .
Mainoo’s poise could be the ideal complement to Rice, who along with Jude Bellingham is England’s only sure starter in midfield.
Kalvin Phillips played alongside Rice during England’s run to the Euro 2020 final, with Jordan Henderson alongside the Arsenal and Bellingham midfielder in both World Cups two years later.
Phillips and Henderson have been two of Southgate’s most trusted lieutenants during his tenure at Wembley and their unwavering loyalty to the pair has often been questioned.
Declan Rice is a guaranteed starter in England’s midfield at the Euros
Jude Bellingham is also guaranteed a place in the starting XI this summer
Conor Gallagher played alongside Rice against Brazil, but his role remains in doubt
However, as things stand, neither of them may be in Germany come summer. Henderson has plummeted down the pecking order following a failed move to Saudi Arabia and an equally disappointing spell so far with Ajax.
Meanwhile, Phillips is paying the price for a so far disastrous loan spell at West Ham.
The 28-year-old left Manchester City in search of much-needed first-team opportunities in January but has looked a shadow of the player Southgate has relied on so often over the past four years.
His disappearance has pushed Gallagher to fill the vacancy alongside Rice. But while the Chelsea midfielder is a willing runner, England can often look unbalanced when he plays alongside his Arsenal counterpart.
Mainoo’s natural game seems to develop at half the pace of Gallagher’s high-energy approach, which is exactly what Southgate may need more of come summer.
The United star is economical in his movements and touches, but combines this with superb vision, positioning sense and spatial awareness.
“As we thought, he has fitted in wonderfully,” was Southgate’s verdict on Mainoo after his cameo against Brazil.
Southgate admitted finding the right balance in midfield is his biggest challenge
Jordan Henderson (left) fell down the pecking order after leaving Liverpool, while Kalvin Phillips (right) was dropped after a dismal start to his loan to West Ham.
“His level of training has been excellent; we will not hesitate to put him on the field.”
Southgate is notoriously reluctant to bow to outside pressure when it comes to team selection, but the clamor surrounding Mainoo is sure to increase if he manages to impress against Belgium.
Of course, it’s worth remembering that Tuesday night will be only his 25th game of senior professional football and that teenagers imposing their authority at major tournaments remain few and far between.
At the same time, making Mainoo a regular starter so early in his professional career would be as bold a decision as Southgate has made since taking the job.
After all, as Sir Matt Busby proclaimed, “if they’re good enough, they’re old enough.”
