Gary Neville has revealed the special defensive skills Kobbie Mainoo pulled off for England when playing against Belgium.
Mainoo, 18, significantly advanced his case for a Euro 2024 spot with a Player of the Match performance in 74 minutes at Wembley, with England drawing 2-2.
His breakthrough at Manchester United this season has been one of their only rays of hope and Gareth Southgate rewarded him with his first two England caps.
‘We say ‘is he a holding midfield player?’, the answer is yes and no. When he goes back to defend his own box, his positions are fantastic,’ he told the Overlap Fan Debate, brought to you by Sky Bet.
Kobbie Mainoo has some special talents that can boost England, Gary Neville believes
Neville praised Mainoo for getting back and tackling Jeremy Doku when he got past him
‘When he goes back to defend his own box, his positions are fantastic.
‘His awareness of danger and runs into the box, blocking pull-backs and things like that, is incredible for a young player.
‘But also, last night there was a moment in the second half when [Jeremy] Doku went past him. He got back at Doku and got the ball off him and slid in.
‘Owen Hargreaves used to do that for United. Hargreaves was a great tackler in midfield, he’d go and take the ball off people. He’s got that about him.
‘If me and you [Carragher] were playing against Doku and he was running at us… once he’s gone, we ain’t getting back at him. We’d drop off him to make sure he’d pass it.
‘He [Mainoo] will go and think “I’m going to take the ball off Doku.” There are very few players like that.’
Fans have been clamouring for Mainoo to be in Southgate’s squad to take to Germany.
‘It would be crazy if he doesn’t go to the Euros. His performances aren’t flukes. He’s consistently the best or one of the best players on the pitch for club and country now,’ one wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Mainoo did well when battling with Doku and won Player of the Match for his performance
Gareth Southgate admitted that Mainoo, 18, ‘gives us a different profile of midfield player’
Mail Sport’s football editor Ian Ladyman believes Mainoo will start at the tournament if Southgate picks his team based on current form.
He wrote in his column: ‘At this early stage, he seems a good foil for Rice and all that he appears to lack at this stage is experience.
‘He may well be able to use that to his advantage. Experience of what? Failure and narrow squeaks and disappointment? How important is that anyway?’
Southgate himself admitted that Mainoo, who is just 23 appearances into his Manchester United career, brings something fresh to the Three Lions.
‘He gives us a different profile of midfield player to anything else we’ve got and we’re really pleased with what he’s done,’ he said.
‘His attributes are there for everybody to see, that ability to receive under pressure and ride challenges, to manipulate the ball in tight areas.’
Gary Neville was speaking on the Overlap Fan Debate, brought to you by Sky Bet.
Also Read More: World News | Entertainment News | Celebrity News
