Gary Neville says Kobbie Mainoo could play ‘Jorginho role’ for England | Football

The 18-year-old, who delivered a superb display in his side’s FA Cup win over Liverpool at the weekend, is in line to make his debut for the Three Lions in friendlies against Brazil and Belgium after being promoted from the Under-21 squad this week.

Midfield is one area of the pitch where Southgate is relatively limited in his options, with minimal depth outside of Rice and Jude Bellingham – who has been playing effectively as a No.10 for Real Madrid this season.

Jordan Henderson provides experience and Conor Gallagher has been impressively tenacious for Chelsea, while James Maddison and Phil Foden are both capable of dropping into deeper roles.

It has created an opening for a player with Mainoo’s technical, playmaking skillset and Neville feels he could be an ideal, Jorginho-like foil for Rice that allows the Arsenal man to push further forward in more of a box-to-box role – as he has done for his club.

Speaking on Sky Bet’s Stick to Football podcast, Neville said: ‘I think when Southgate watches Rice [for Arsenal] and how Rice has been freed by Jorginho, I wonder whether he’s brought Mainoo in to sit there and have Bellingham and Rice in front.

‘Because they’ll both get back and, to be fair, look after him. I wonder if [Southgate] is thinking, “Well he can handle the ball, the kid” – he’s unbelievable on the ball.

‘And then you just throw Rice forward one, because I think Rice isn’t the best at receiving it in tight areas with his back to play.

‘I think he’s better when he’s actually facing the play and running forward.

‘I think Mainoo can receive it in those little areas, so having him there [in the deepest role] with the other two ahead, is maybe what [Southgate] is looking at.’

Fellow pundit Roy Keane agreed, chiming in: ‘Rice has always had more in his locker than that sitting role. He can definitely play in a more advanced position.’

On the United player Mainoo most reminds him of, Keane continued: ‘I’d say that Kobbie Mainoo compares more to Nicky Butt than Paul Scholes, but that’s because Scholes played further forward when he first joined Manchester United.

‘What makes these young players successful is their personalities and their temperament, so I would put Mainoo on par with Butt and Scholes in their first three months at the club.

‘It’s all about how players settle into the first team and how they cope with the challenges, playing at Old Trafford, but from what I’ve seen, Mainoo looks great, but he’s got lots to learn in that position.’

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