Simon Jordan believes being in the England squad for Euro 2024 is something Kobbie Mainoo isn’t ready for.
Manchester United starlet Kobbie Mainoo received the great and surprising news this week that he has been promoted to the England senior side.
Gareth Southgate initially decided to leave the 18-year-old out of his squad for the friendlies against Brazil and Belgium as he wanted to give him room to develop.
It’s a stance the Three Lions boss U-turned on after Mainoo’s excellent performance against Liverpool in the FA Cup, though, and he has now been selected without any players dropping out through injury.
The surprise call-up has seen Mainoo completely skip Under-21 level football for his country, something even Jude Bellingham didn’t do.
However, TalkSPORT pundit Simon Jordan doesn’t think Mainoo is ready to be in the squad for this summer’s Euro 2024.
Simon Jordan explains why Kobbie Mainoo shouldn’t go to Germany
Speaking onTalkSPORT, Jordan said: “The characterisation of it is he old enough?
“Well is he old enough for what? Is he old enough to be in the squad in some friendlies, why not?
“Is he old enough to be a part of a Championship-winning England side? Probably not at this stage.
“The ultimate equation is, do we get something from putting him in an international framework, seeing how he responds to the back-drop of being amongst other players from other clubs and maybe he gets some game time?
“I think the question is, is he good enough and old enough for what?
“For being in a squad? Yeah, I think so, why not?
“But being in the England squad for the European Championships if we’re going to try and win it and have players available, seasoned and understand the expectations of international football, probably that’s a step I don’t think he’s ready for.”
Kobbie Mainoo is already showing his thinking is wrong
As much as we all love summer tournaments, international football is no longer the pinnacle of the game. It’s not the final proving ground to truly test a player’s quality.
Club football is and if Mainoo is not only playing but dazzling week in and week out for United then there is no reason why he can’t play in a tournament for England.
Jordan is right that Mainoo will have to leap at the opportunity that has been presented this week.
The teenager will have to prove he can fit into a settled squad and offer something Southgate’s favourites in his position don’t.
If he gets a chance to play, a strong display will do his chances of going to Euro 2024 a world of good.
But his age and experience shouldn’t be a factor. Just his performances.
Mainoo has been excellent since breaking into the United team and could well be the missing piece to Southgate’s midfield alongside Bellingham and Declan Rice.
Give us Mainoo’s skill and dynamism rather than Jordan Henderson’s and Kalvin Phillips’ ‘seasoned understanding’ any day of the week.