Man Utd star earns ‘shock’ international call-up after World Cup snub

Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo has been selected for the England squad despite his woeful World Cup campaign.

The Three Lions will play four UEFA Nations League fixtures in the extended September-October international break.

They begin their campaign by hosting newly-crowned world champions Spain next Saturday, before playing the Czech Republic (twice) and Croatia.

Kobbie Mainoo earns England call-up

(Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

After finishing third on the global stage, England manager Thomas Tuchel decided to confirm the bulk of his World Cup squad, including Mainoo.

The Manchester Evening News described this choice as a ‘no surprise’ given Mainoo’s form, but paradoxically a ‘shock’ based on the player’s WC campaign.

The 21-year-old had earned his place in the World Cup squad after a splendid second half of the season under Carrick, but Tuchel decided to keep him on the bench for the duration of the tournament.

In addition to Mainoo, Man United forward Marcus Rashford also kept his place in the squad, which witnessed the noticeable returns of Real Madrid right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold and Chelsea’s attacking midfielder Cole Palmer.

MUFC veterans Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw expectedly remained out of the squad, especially with the latter struggling with a knock that kept him out of action in recent weeks.

Full England Squad

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, James Trafford, Jason Steele

Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jarrod Branthwaite, Trevor Chalobah, Marc Guehi, Lewis Hall, Ezri Konsa, Tino Livramento, Nico O’Reilly, Jarrell Quansah

Midfielders: Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Kobbie Mainoo, Cole Palmer, Declan Rice, Alex Scott

Forwards: Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Eberechi Eze, Anthony Gordon, Harry Kane, Rio Ngumoha, Marcus Rashford, Morgan Rogers, Bukayo Saka

Will Kobbie Mainoo get his chance?

(Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

Last summer, Mainoo may have been too late an addition to break into Tuchel’s lineup. After all, he had vanished off the scene during Ruben Amorim’s reign at Carrington, so perhaps the England technical staff had already built their plans around other midfielders, like Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson.

On the other hand, the Nations League represents an official yet ‘casual’ competition that allows international managers to test new ideas.

Therefore, we can expect Mainoo to play his part in the action, even if he won’t be immediately thrust into the clash against Spain.

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