Mainoo eyes place in Euros squad after call-up delight
‘Whirlwind of emotions’ for teenage United midfielder Following England footsteps of hero Rooney is ‘a dream’
Kobbie Mainoo’s ambition after a whirlwind season is not satisfied by a call-up to the England squad – the 18-year-old is targeting a place at the European Championship.
The Manchester United midfielder started the campaign injured, recovering from pre-season ankle surgery, but his progression since making his Premier
League debut in November has been dramatic; into Erik ten Hag’s team and then catching the eye of national manager Gareth Southgate to give himself a chance of boarding the plane to Germany this summer.
Mainoo idolised Wayne Rooney as he came through the ranks at United and could now follow in his footsteps as the teenage star at a major tournament.
“Yes, I mean, I think that’s the end goal for the season, to get into that squad,” he said.
Mainoo gives the impression that he can barely believe his own rapid ascent, but games such as the FA Cup win against Liverpool at the weekend showed his capabilities.
Southgate had tracked him over the winter and Mainoo is likely to get a senior debut over the next week against Brazil or Belgium.
It will mark an incredible campaign for a player who suffered injury minutes into a pre-season friendly against Real Madrid and looked like it would be a year of development at Old Trafford.
“I thought I was going to hit the ground running at the start of the season but I had an injury” he said. “It required surgery. But it didn’t hold me back too much.
“Last year I was on the bench, waiting to get my chance. Around November, I got my first start and since then everything’s gone so fast, so many games, and I’ve just been enjoying it so much.
“I was shocked and happy with the call-up and it’s been a whirlwind of emotions. It’s been good, I feel welcome. The lads and the staff have all been great and welcoming. I trained my first proper session today and I enjoyed it.”
In a season of extreme highs and lows at United, Mainoo’s progress has been constant. With the guidance of Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes, he looks like he could be in the United midfield for years and his heroes will only endear him to the club’s fans. There is Rooney, but there is also Eric Cantona.
“I’d say Rooney. Paul Scholes as well. And King Eric. It was a bit before my time, but I still appreciate it. I’ve watched clips and stuff,” he said. Ronaldinho has also been an influence.
“I was a United fan. I grew up in Stockport. Both parents are Ghanaian and my whole childhood was football, really. Played for United since I was young and, yes, it’s just
been football, football, football since and I’ve enjoyed every second of it.”
Mainoo still qualifies for Ghana through his parents but has played in England youth teams. His spell in the Under-21s lasted a couple of days before Southgate’s call-up 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 dreamt that this would come, and it finally has.
“Recently, the games have been coming so fast at United I’ve not really had the time to think about it too much. We had so many big games that I couldn’t really take my eye off the ball. But now I’m here, I am taking it all in and it’s been amazing. I’m proud of my Ghanaian heritage, but playing for England is also an amazing opportunity for me. I’m just enjoying the experience.”
Casemiro, Mainoo’s Brazilian clubmate who will miss Saturday’s Wembley friendly through injury, has been a huge influence.
“He has a lot of experience and he gives me little tips and helps me a lot, talks with me and stuff like that,” Mainoo said. “To have someone who’s played so much in the game and won so much in him, it’s the best you can have, really. As well as Bruno, who I play next to also, who has got a lot of experience.”
How much would it mean to face Brazil on Saturday? “A country with such history in football,” he said. “Brazil is such an iconic team and to play against them would be amazing.”
And a debut over the next week would mark a new star for Southgate, with Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka two other young players who have seized their chance in recent years. “To follow in their footsteps… they’ve been amazing,” Mainoo said. “They’ve come up and stayed up so quickly and they’re both great players.”