by It’s been a whirlwind season for Kobbie Mainoo to break into the England squad but his ambition isn’t stopping there, with the teenager now targeting a place at the European Championships this summer.
The 18-year-old started the campaign injured, recovering from pre-season ankle surgery, but has made significant progress since making his Premier League debut in November. Joining Erik Ten Hag’s team and then catching the eye of Gareth Southgate to give himself a chance to board the plane to Germany.
He idolized Wayne Rooney while coming through the ranks at Manchester United and could follow in his footsteps as the teenage star at a major tournament. “Yeah, I mean, I think that’s the ultimate goal for the season, to get into that squad,” he said. “Obviously I have to focus on club football in the meantime, and hopefully that will work out.”
Mainoo suggests he can hardly believe his own rapid rise but games such as the FA Cup win against Liverpool at the weekend have shown his potential. Southgate had tracked him down over the winter and is likely to get a senior start next week against either Brazil or Belgium.
‘Swift emotions’
It will mark an incredible campaign for a player who suffered an injury minutes into a pre-season friendly against Real Madrid and looked set to have a breakthrough year at Old Trafford.
“I thought I was going to hit the ground running at the start of the season but obviously I had an injury against Real Madrid,” he said. “Surgery was required. A small arrangement. But it didn’t hold me back too much.
“Last year I was on the bench of course, waiting for my time to get my chance. Around November I got my first start and since then everything has gone so fast, so many games, and I’ve just been enjoying it.
“I was surprised and delighted with the call up and it’s a whirlwind of emotions, I guess. It is good. I mean, I feel welcome. All the lads and staff were very welcoming. I trained my first proper session today and enjoyed it. It was a good session.”
In a season of great highlights for United, Mainoo has continued to progress. With the guidance of Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes, it looks like he could be in the center of United’s midfield for years and his heroes will only admire him. Rooney is there, but so is Eric Cantona.
“I would say Rooney. Paul Scholes as well. And King Eric. It was a little before my time, but I’m still grateful for it. I watched clips and stuff,” he said. Ronaldinho was also an influence, and Mainoo added: “He plays with a smile on his face, and he plays freely, doesn’t he? I think everyone loves Ronaldinho. How can you not? I mean, he’s a great player.
“I was a United fan. I grew up in Stockport. Both parents are Ghanaian and my whole childhood was football, really. I’ve played for United since I was young and, yes, it’s just football, football, football since then and I’ve enjoyed every second of it.”
‘You dream of playing for England’
Mainoo is still eligible for Ghana through his parents but has played in the England youth team, and his spell in the Under-21s lasted a few days before Southgate’s call earlier this week.
“Of course, as a kid you always dream of playing for England,” he said. “But at the time I was just taking it game by game. I always hoped and dreamed that this would come, and it finally has.
“Recently, the games have been coming so fast at United I haven’t had time to think about it. I didn’t really think about it. Obviously I knew the international break was coming up, so thought about it but, still, we had so many big games that I couldn’t really take my eye off the ball. But now I’m here, I’m obviously taking it all in and it’s been great.
“I mean, of course, I’m proud of my Ghanaian heritage, but it’s also a great opportunity for me to play for England. I’m enjoying the experience.”
Although Casemiro will miss this weekend’s friendly through injury, he has had a huge impact on Mainoo this season with one of the most decorated midfielders teaching his defence.
“He’s got a lot of experience and he obviously gives me little tips and helps me a lot, talks to me and stuff like that,” he said. “For someone who’s played so much in the game and won so much, it’s the best you can have, really. As well as Bruno, who I also play next to, who has a lot of experience.”
How much would it mean to face Brazil on Saturday? “A country with such a history in football,” he said. “Brazil are such an iconic team and it would be great to play against them.”
And with the start of next week there will be a new star for Southgate, Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka are two of the recent young players who have a chance to tap. “To follow in their own footsteps… they were amazing,” Mainoo said. “They came and stayed so quickly and they’re both great players.”
Mainoo hopes to stay up too.
