Rio Ferdinand has admitted that one Manchester United star will play a “part in this tournament,” despite predicting he won’t initially start for his country at Euro 2024.
Euro 2024 will kick off this week when host nation Germany, who are one of the tournament favourites, face Scotland in Munich for their Group A opener.
Manchester United players have been called up by their respective countries for Euro 2024, while others are expected to play at this summer’s Copa America.
Scott McTominay has been called up for Scotland while Christian Eriksen and Rasmus Hojlund have been named in the Denmark squad for Euro 2024.
Kobbie Mainoo and Luke Shaw have earned a place in the England squad, but Marcus Rashford and Harry Maguire won’t feature for the Three Lions this summer.
Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes are also set to reunite with former United teammate Cristiano Ronaldo after the trio were named in the Portugal squad.
Ferdinand makes prediction for Man Utd star
Manchester United star Kobbie Mainoo only made his senior England debut in March after an impressive breakout season at Old Trafford.
Gareth Southgate initially snubbed Mainoo for the March international break before the England boss made a U-turn on the United midfielder.
Mainoo has managed three appearances for England ahead of Euro 2024, including playing the full 90 minutes in the 1-0 defeat to Iceland at Wembley last week.
The 19-year-old Stockport-born player made his England debut in a 1-0 defeat to Brazil at Wembley before he started his first match in a 2-2 draw against Belgium.
Rio Ferdinand has now predicted that Mainoo will play a “part” for England at Euro 2024, but the United legend is not convinced he will initially start under Southgate.
Speaking on Rio Ferdinand Presents FIVE, he said: “I think Mainoo plays a part in this tournament, but I don’t start him initially and it’s the same with Trent [Alexander-Arnold].
“One of those two could almost come in and take a shirt at some point maybe. But that’s the team I would start with.
“Trent is ridiculous. I can’t talk highly enough about him with the ball, his passing range is like [Kevin] De Bruyne, it’s [David] Beckham-esque, them levels, he can put the ball anywhere you want.
“But right now, has he played enough games in midfield? Has he been exposed to it enough?”
Ferdinand names his preferred England XI
Ferdinand revealed his preferred starting XI for England at Euro 2024, including Luke Shaw playing at left-back if the United star has recovered from injury.
“I’d play different in and out of possession. Out of possession, I would play a back four when we’re defending,” he said.
“So, I would go [Kyle] Walker, [John] Stones, [Marc] Guehi and Shaw if he’s fit.
“And then I would go Declan [Rice] in front, this is when we’re defending, and then I’d have to two No 8s/No 10s, [Phil] Foden and [Jude] Bellingham.
“But when we’re in possession, we’ll go to a back three: Walker, Guehi and Shaw and Stones would push in as one of the two pivots controlling the game and the two No 8s/No 10s in front of them will be Foden and Bellingham.
“I want Foden to be more of a linker and I want Bellingham running on, I don’t want you coming to the ball, keep running on beyond Kane who is going to come deep as well.
“[Bukayo] Saka on the right and I’d start [Anthony] Gordon on the left because I want people that can go beyond. I don’t want everyone going to the ball.”