(Football news) Despite requests for Gareth Southgate and the FA to expedite the 18-year-old’s inclusion in the Three Lions camp, the player was first chosen for Lee Carsley’s Under-21 group.

Since Mainoo may also play for Ghana, England has been keen to sign him to their senior team. Mainoo has now established himself as a regular starter under Erik ten Hag at Manchester United.

After announcing his team for the friendlies this month, Southgate spoke to the media and waxed poetic about Mainoo’s performances in the Premier League while emphasizing the need to err on the side of caution with his development. 

“I think that he’s doing brilliantly for a young player and we’re never slow to put a young player into seniors. But he’s only had a handful of games and you have to be very careful development-wise in making those decisions at the right time,” Southgate said.

“So we think ideally, we should allow him that space to develop at his own speed. He’s not at the point in terms of number of games that Jude [Bellingham] and Bukayo [Saka] were when they came in for the first time.

“But I repeat: he’s doing really well for a young player. He’s a good footballer — you can see that. And he’s getting some fabulous experience with Manchester United at the moment. And he looks a really good character.”

Nevertheless, even though the Red Devils prospect did not make his debut for Carsley’s team, England revealed on Tuesday afternoon that he had been elevated from the Under-21s to the senior group.

Prior to making his debut for the latter age group in March 2023 and captaining the team in a 3-2 friendly victory over Japan in November of last year, Mainoo had collected caps for England at the Under-17, Under-18, and Under-19 levels.

Having started all 12 of Man United’s Premier League games this season and scoring two goals in his 20 appearances for the team, the midfielder is rewarded with a spot in Southgate’s starting lineup. 

Mainoo also participated for 80 minutes in the Red Devils’ thrilling 4-3 extra-time victory against Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter finals. Ten Hag’s team is anticipated to start Mainoo in the semi-final matchup with Coventry City at Wembley next month.

The 18-year-old is another possibility for Southgate’s midfield, joining Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice, Conor Gallagher, Cole Palmer, James Maddison, and Jordan Henderson. England also revealed that all 25 players who were initially chosen had shown up for training at St George’s Park.

Three days later, on March 23, the Three Lions played their first match of 2024 at Wembley against Brazil. Three days later, they hosted Belgium for an international friendly in the English capital. 

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