Manchester United’s midfielder, Kobbie Mainoo, is under the radar for a potential senior international call-up by England’s manager, Gareth Southgate.
Despite being only 18 years old, Mainoo has already earned caps for England up to the Under-19 level. However, he remains eligible to represent Ghana on the international stage.
Speaking after Thursday’s Nations League draw in Paris, Southgate praised Mainoo’s progress, stating, “He’s doing brilliantly.”
Southgate added that while Mainoo is not necessarily confined to a defensive midfield role, he exhibits a progressive style of play. Southgate expressed eagerness to monitor Mainoo’s development as time progresses.
“He’s quite a progressive player but he’s had a fabulous start to his career and it will be good to monitor him as we go forward,” he furthered.
Mainoo, who plays as a central midfielder for Manchester United, has made significant strides in his career despite being sidelined with a foot injury during the early stages of the season.
Since late November, he has started nine Premier League matches under the management of Erik ten Hag. Notably, Mainoo scored a late winning goal in a 4-3 victory against Wolves and also found the net against Newport County in the FA Cup.
Randy Abbey, a member of the Ghana Football Association’s executive council, expressed the association’s interest in Mainoo’s talent.
Abbey emphasized Ghana’s commitment to identifying and attracting eligible players for its national teams, including Mainoo.
He said, “The Ghana Football Association is interested in monitoring, attracting, and persuading all eligible talents for its various national teams.
“Kobbie is definitely one of these incredible talents and the association would love to work with him and many like him at home and abroad.”
Ghana’s history includes successful efforts to persuade players like Tariq Lamptey, who switched allegiance from England to represent Ghana.
Other players, such as Callum Hudson-Odoi and Eddie Nketiah, remain eligible to play for Ghana despite having been capped by England at the senior level. FIFA regulations allow players of their age who have not participated in more than three international fixtures to switch national allegiances.
