Sports
| International friendly: England v Brazil |
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| Date: Saturday, 23 March Venue: Wembley Stadium Kick-off: 19:00 GMT Coverage: Listen to full match commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live with John Murray, Ian Dennis and Matt Upson; follow live text commentary on the BBC Sport website & app |
MANCHESTER United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo says he is targeting a place in England’s Euro 2024 squad after a “mad couple of days”.
Mainoo, 18, was originally named in the under-21s squad but has been promoted to Gareth Southgate’s senior side for friendlies against Brazil on Saturday and Belgium on 26 March at Wembley.
“I was shocked and happy,” Mainoo told BBC Radio 5 Live’s John Murray.
“It’s been a whirlwind of emotions, a pretty mad couple of days.”
Mainoo, who was brought up in Stockport, only made his first Premier League start in November but has since become a regular under United boss Erik ten Hag.
He scored a dramatic 97th-minute winner in a 4-3 win at Wolves on 1 February.
“I had to adapt quickly to the Premier League. Obviously, it’s very demanding physically, and also mentally, so it’s been tough,” Mainoo added.
“But I feel like I’ve found my feet a bit now and I’m enjoying it.
“The games have been coming so fast at United but now I’m here [with England], obviously I am taking it all in and it’s been amazing.”
Asked about his hopes of making the squad for the European Championship in Germany, Mainoo said: “I think that’s the end goal for the season, to get into that squad.
“But obviously I’ve got to focus on club football in the meantime, and hopefully that’ll figure itself out.”
Analysis – Southgate wants a look at Mainoo
BBC Radio 5 live football correspondent John Murray
There’s never a better time to interview a footballer than when they are called into the England senior squad for the first time.
Kobbie Mainoo was softly spoken and well mannered which he told us came from his parents.
He told us the first thing he did when he got news of the call-up was to ring his dad, his mother, his two sisters, his brother – the family are obviously close.
His answer on getting a place in the Euros squad… well, it is an interesting time.
Mainoo was called up as the 26th man in this squad – no-one has dropped out yet but there might be an issue over Jordan Henderson’s fitness.
There’s no Kalvin Phillips in this squad; Trent Alexander-Arnold may well have played in midfield again but he’s out injured; Curtis Jones is another one I think would have been in this squad [but for injury]; John Stones is a possibility [for midfield].
But Gareth Southgate has made the decision he’s going to have a look at Mainoo and I suspect because of those absentees he might get an opportunity in these next two matches to show what he can do for England.
BBC
21st March, 2024.
C.E.
Tags: Kobbie Mainoo Manchester United
