KOBBIE MAINOO’S last chance for the World Cup has arrived.
The 20-year-old midfielder will learn his fate when Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel names his penultimate squad on Friday morning.
When Tuchel announces his camp for the two March friendlies against Uruguay and Japan, it will give a major hint as to who will be on the plane for this summer‘s World Cup.
It will be the German’s last chance to work with his group before naming his final 26-man squad in May, so it is a landmark moment in their preparations.
And Mainoo could celebrate a call-up against England rival Alex Scott when Manchester United visit Bournemouth hours after the announcement in Friday night’s Prem clash.
With seven of the XI – Jordan Pickford, Reece James, Ezri Konsa, Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, Bukayo Saka and Harry Kane – nearly nailed on to start, a fierce debate remains over who will claim the final midfield roles.
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With Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers all but guaranteed a spot in the departure lounge, Mainoo’s direct competition comes down to Adam Wharton and Scott.
England will likely stick with the experiment of including Jordan Henderson’s experience, even though the ex-Liverpool captain turns 36 during the tournament.
Everton midfielder James Garner, a Carrington graduate, is also making a late bid.
Having anchored the midfield in the Euro 2024 final at just 19, Mainoo possesses a unique quality that England otherwise lack.
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With Bellingham, Rogers, and Cole Palmer battling for the No10 spot, Mainoo shines in a deeper role.
He has quietly become the Premier League’s best English midfielder in possession since Michael Carrick recalled him against City on January 17.
Other than Bellingham, who has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since February 1, Mainoo also boasts the highest passing accuracy among all England midfield hopefuls with 90.5 per cent.
Tuchel said Mainoo, and his United teammates Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire, are “absolutely back in the frame” to be selected on Friday.
The boss said earlier this month: “It’s great to see him (Mainoo) back on the pitch.
“He is such a huge talent. He has already played a tournament from start to finish for England, so he is back in the picture.”
Mainoo also beats his closest competitors Wharton, Scott and Henderson for chances created in his nine games under Carrick.
He is second to Rice in successful passes (450), while putting up highly respectable numbers in tackles (19) and duels won (46).
Over his last nine appearances, he has tallied more assists than Scott, Henderson, and Rogers, while Henderson hasn’t even managed a single shot on target in that same span.
While Mainoo has looked better in possession during recent games, Scott has been the stronger attacker.
However, that attacking edge isn’t strictly necessary for an England side already locked in a debate over the No. 10 role.
Henderson has 88 caps for the Three Lions but has not featured in a major tournament since Qatar 2022.
Rice praised his “solid partnership” with Mainoo as the duo started all three of England’s knockout games in the heart of England’s midfield at Euro 2024.
But since the final heartbreak against Spain, Mainoo has played just one game for England, the 2-0 win against the Republic of Ireland in interim boss Lee Carsley’s first match in charge.
Due to his limited game time under former United head coach Ruben Amorim, Mainoo has not been included in ANY of Tuchel’s squads since he took over in January 2025.
Wharton, who has started 26 games for Crystal Palace this season, was named in Tuchel’s last group in November, and made headlines with his two skilful assists at Tottenham this month.
While Scott earned a first call up in November and the 22-year-old has been a mainstay in Andoni Iraola’s side, with two goals in 27 starts.
If Amorim was still in charge at Old Trafford, Mainoo would be making peace with watching the tournament from his sofa.
Caught in the reality of United’s historically thin schedule—their most restricted since the First World War—Mainoo is desperately hoping the clock hasn’t already run out on his chances.
After Friday’s trip to Bournemouth, Manchester United don’t have another match for 24 days, when they play Leeds at home.