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Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has stated that he would select to play Kobbie Mainoo over Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold within the England midfield at Euro 2024.
Mainoo endured a particularly profitable particular person marketing campaign regardless of United’s struggles on the pitch.
The 19-year-old simply broke into Erik ten Hag’s plans quickly after his restoration from an harm picked up in pre-season and has since by no means seemed again.
He impressed together with his calm and composed shows that always made him stand out head and shoulders above a few of his senior and extra skilled teammates. Mainoo capped his season by scoring within the FA Cup closing final weekend as United beat Manchester Metropolis 2-1 at Wembley.
Mainoo was included in Gareth Southgate’s provisional squad forward of Euro 2024 and the expectation is that he might be a part of the ultimate checklist earlier than the summer season match kicks off in Germany
One participant who was not referred to as up by Southgate was Jordan Henderson and there was quite a lot of discuss who will exchange him.
It has been prompt that one resolution to offset Henderson’s absence can be to deploy Alexander-Arnold barely greater up the pitch, in the midst of the park – a task he’s accustomed to.
Nevertheless, in response to Rooney who spoke on The Overlap, the Three Lions can be finest served by using Mainoo as an alternative of the Liverpool star.
Rooney stated, ” I’ve watched Trent play in midfield a couple of instances and I feel you lose quite a lot of his qualities. His supply is clearly unimaginable and naturally he can decide passes from midfield, however I feel he has to battle it out [with Walker for the right-back spot].”
“I do know Kyle is the most effective right-back on the planet on the minute however I feel midfield is such an necessary place. I’d play Mainoo earlier than Trent in midfield, 100%.”
“It’s not that Trent can’t play there, we noticed him do it lately towards Everton and a number of the passes he was hitting had been unbelievable. It’s in all probability solely Becks [David Beckham] who beats him in that space.”
Rooney added, “However I feel to play in midfield, you want that self-discipline, particularly if you come up towards the larger groups, and he may get discovered somewhat bit.”
The United legend backed England to do properly on the Euros now that they’ve a component of concern round them.
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