Liverpool legend Graeme Souness has insisted that England manager Gareth Southgate can “count on” one Manchester United star who has a “bright future.”
Gareth Southgate saw his England side return to action during the March international break, with the Three Lions suffering a 1-0 defeat to Brazil.
Brazil wonderkid Endrick, who spoke highly of one Manchester United legend, broke the deadlock late in the second half against England at Wembley on Saturday.
Southgate is preparing for England’s upcoming Euro 2024 campaign this summer, with the Three Lions considered one of the favourites to win the tournament.
The 53-year-old England manager is out of contract in December 2024 and his long-term future as Three Lions boss remains unclear ahead of Euro 2024 in Germany.
Southgate has even emerged as a potential shock candidate to replace Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford if the current United manager is axed from the Premier League club.
The Three Lions head coach, who recently dropped huge praise on one United star, has failed to lead England to any major silverware in his last three tournaments.
Southgate took England to the 2018 World Cup semi-finals in Russia, while the Three Lions fell short in the final at Euro 2020 to Italy on penalties at Wembley.
England’s last major competition saw the Three Lions crash out of the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar at the hands of France.
Souness on important Man Utd talent for Southgate
Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo was called up to the England senior squad for the March international break after his impact at Old Trafford this season.
The 18-year-old has impressed in his breakout season at the Red Devils, with Kobbie Mainoo establishing himself as a leading midfield presence for Erik ten Hag.
Gareth Southgate had initially snubbed Mainoo for an England call-up, with the United star instead securing a place in the Three Lions’ Under-21s squad.
However, Mainoo’s first time with the England U21s was short-lived after Southgate made a U-turn on his decision and included the United star in his senior squad.
Mainoo made his hotly anticipated England debut in the 1-0 defeat to Brazil, with the United player replacing Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher late in the second half.
The England international impressed with his second-half showing against Brazil, with even Southgate sharing his two cents on Mainoo in the aftermath of the match.
Graeme Souness has admitted that Mainoo could be a long-term prospect for Southgate if the England boss remains in charge of the Three Lions after Euro 2024.
Souness talks Mainoo and Southgate
Speaking in his column for The Daily Mail, Souness wrote: “They [Jarrad Branthwaite and Kobbie Mainoo] are both really good footballers, athletic and capable of taking the ball in tight spaces.
“They’re prepared to pick a pass instead of those who are happy to shift on the responsibility.
“To underline my point, when you are in the tunnel, waiting to go out, there are two types of players: the footballer who hopes to get through 90 minutes without make a mistake and the proper football player who says, ‘I can’t wait to get out there and be the difference today.’
“Branthwaite and Mainoo are the latter. They’ve both got a bright future for Gareth Southgate to count on.”