Though Kobbie Mainoo has only played 33 games for Manchester United, he is about to represent England in an international competition.

The celebrity from Stockport has risen quickly. Not until the end of November did he make his Premier League debut, but he has since seized the chance. He was one of Erik ten Hag’s team’s undroppables at the end of the season, and he distinguished himself in the FA Cup final victory over Manchester City.

Though in reality it had hardly been in doubt since his outstanding debut in the March friendly against Belgium, that man of the match performance and what proved to be the winning goal clinched his position on the plane to Germany. The midfielder is greatly admired by Gareth Southgate, who has accelerated his promotion to the senior England squad.

With Declan Rice in the middle of midfield, there seems to be one opening for grabs when the Three Lions take on Serbia on Sunday night to begin their Euro 2024 campaign. Mainoo had the opportunity to establish himself in the warm-up game against Iceland, but he fumbled his words like the rest of the England team that evening as Southgate’s team lost 1-0 at Wembley.

Although the 19-year-old is figҺting against players like Adam Wharton, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Conor Gallagher for a place in the starting lineup, former England and Man United midfielder Paul Ince thinks the kid isn’t ready for the move up yet.

“I think Kobbie Mainoo has done really well this season in a struggling Manchester United team; it’s all happened so quickly and I think he has an experienced head for such a young player,” Ince stated.

“He seems unaffected by anything, therefore I think it makes sense that he is in the team, but given the state of England’s defensive midfield players, should he start?

That relies on Gareth Southgate’s preferences. Does he want an eight in front of him after two sitting midfield players? Or would he have Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham, and Declan Rice lead the way? I think that answers more.

Despite being a member of the England squad that advanced to the Euro semi-finals in 1996, Ince believes Southgate and United need to be patient with Mainoo.

Is Mainoo prepared as of right moment? Naturally not, given his youth,” he said to bet365. “But occasionally you have to swim because you’re tossed into the deep end. You must survive, and I believe he can.

But listen, we shouldn’t place too much pressure on him because he’s still a youngster and will err. Starting him will be challenging, in my opinion, because of his poor performance in the Iceland game.

The аggressive style Southgate chooses to employ against Serbia will determine that. Playing the first game is mostly about not getting beaten. We shall thus have to wait and watch whether Mainoo begins.