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Reds legends expect Mainoo to start last-16 tie

by
Mikey Partington
Wednesday 26 June 2024 10:10

Manchester United legends Roy Keane and Gary Neville both believe that Kobbie Mainoo will be a starter in England’s midfield for this Sunday’s Euro 2024 last-16 tie in Gelsenkirchen.

Reds midfielder Mainoo made his second substitute appearance of the tournament in the Three Lions’ 0-0 draw with Slovenia on Tuesday, a result that was enough to send them through to the knockout stage as Group C winners.

Gareth Southgate’s side’s next opponents will be confirmed once the final batch of group-stage fixtures have taken place tonight, but regardless of who they will face, Keane and Neville both think the 19-year-old has done enough to earn his first major-tournament start.

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It was a tense but ultimately positive night for United's English and Danish internationals.

After replacing Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher at half-time in Cologne, our no.37 produced an influential 45-minute performance on and off the ball as England searched for a breakthrough, notably helping to tee up a late chance for Cole Palmer with an improvised flick into Harry Kane’s path.

Mainoo completed 100 per cent of his tackles and all but one of his 34 passes on the evening, with his impact a talking point that Keane and Neville both had their say on, during ITV Football’s post-match analysis.

“I’m certain Mainoo will start in the next game,” former Reds right-back Neville began.

“I think it was quite obvious we needed someone in there who would get us playing and Mainoo does that.

“The midfield, it's pretty obvious that in the first two games we couldn't get control of the ball in a way that's going to help us through the tournament,” he added.

“Kobbie Mainoo has provided a far better solution in the second half of that game than the other options that have been used so far.”

Keane shared the sentiments of his former Old Trafford colleague, in thinking that Mainoo would be the right man to partner Arsenal’s Declan Rice at the base of the England midfield.

Both Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold and the aforementioned Gallagher have been asked to do that from the start of matches already in this tournament, but Roy thinks Kobbie will now get his opportunity off the back of a composed showing against Slovenia.

Will Kobbie Mainoo be in England's starting XI on Sunday?poll

Will Kobbie Mainoo be in England's starting XI on Sunday?

“I think Mainoo looked very comfortable out there,” the ex-Reds midfielder said.

“By the end of this game, I think we would all be surprised if Mainoo doesn't start the next game. When you throw a player in [from the bench]... the players ultimately pick the team. 

“I always say with young players, they have no fear – just go with them sometimes.”

England will play one of the four best third-placed teams – the exact identity of which is due to be confirmed later – in the round of 16 at 17:00 BST on Sunday.

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