Wayne Rooney would pick Man Utd star ahead of Liverpool ace at Euro 2024 | Football
Wayne Rooney believes Manchester United starlet Kobbie Mainoo should start in England’s midfield at Euro 2024 ahead of Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Gareth Southgate must pick a new midfielder to partner Declan Rice in Germany this summer after dropping Jordan Henderson from England’s provisional 33-man squad and overlooking Kalvin Phillips following a dismal season.
Ballon d’Or contender and Champions League finalist Jude Bellingham could play alongside Arsenal record signing Rice but is expected to be in the more advanced role he has occupied at Real Madrid.
Southgate may yet abandon his conservative principles and decide to play Rice as the sole sitting midfielder, allowing him to start another player further up the pitch.
But playing two midfielders in front of England’s depleted back-four appears the more likely outcome and Rooney believes Mainoo should have that responsibility rather than Alexander-Arnold.
Mainoo, 19, is set to be named in England’s final Euros squad following a breakthrough season for Manchester United in which he impressed in a dysfunctional midfield and scored in the FA Cup final.
With Premier League-winning captain Kyle Walker difficult to displace at right-back, Southgate may be temped to push Alexander-Arnold into midfield, a position he has played for Liverpool.
Kobbie Mainoo has enjoyed a breakthrough season at Manchester United (Picture: Getty)
But Rooney believes this would be a mistake and says he would ‘100%’ play Mainoo ahead of Alexander-Arnold in England’s midfield.
Asked if he would be temped to move the Liverpool star into midfield, Rooney said on The Overlap: ‘No. I have watched Trent play in midfield a few times and I think you lose a lot of his qualities.
‘His delivery is obviously incredible and of course he can pick passes from midfield, but I think he has to fight it out [with Walker for the right-back spot].
‘I know Kyle is the best right-back in the world at the minute but I think midfield is such an important position. I would play Mainoo before Trent in midfield, 100%.
‘It’s not that Trent can’t play there, we saw him do it recently against Everton and some of the passes he was hitting were unbelievable. It’s probably only Becks [David Beckham] who beats him in that area.
‘But I think to play in midfield, you need that discipline, especially when you come up against the bigger teams, and he might get found out a little bit.’
England are bidding to win their first men’s major trophy since 1966, having threatened to end their trophy drought at the last three tournaments.
Southgate’s side reached the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup and the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup, in-between a run to the Euro 2020 final, where they were beaten on penalties by Italy.
Rating England’s chances of winning Euro 2024, Three Lions legend Rooney added: ‘They can win it. I think other countries are starting to fear England a little bit.
‘We have always been a good team but there was never that fear. Maybe we’re a little bit short in midfield and the back but they can certainly win it. It will be tough and you’ll need a bit of luck but they can win it.’
Mainoo made his England debut during the last international break, coming on as a substitute against Brazil and then starting against Belgium at Wembley.
Southgate has suggested he has no concerns over picking the teenager at the Euros following his ‘amazing season’ for Manchester United.
‘The curious thing about young talent is how will they cope under pressure,’ he said this week. ‘You can see the technical ability but it’s about how tactically aware they are, how mature, ability to cope with big matches.
‘When you’re playing for Manchester United you’re always under the spotlight. He’s shown that with them, with us in March. We’ve never been afraid to put young players in.
‘If players are good enough we’re not so concerned about their age. Kobbie has had an amazing season and it was fabulous for him to finish the season with a goal and a trophy.’
England begin their Euro 2024 campaign against Serbia on June 16, before completing the group stage against Denmark and Slovenia.
