Gary Neville believes Manchester United teenager Kobbie Mainoo could be given the ‘Jorginho role’ by Gareth Southgate and let Declan Rice play further up for England.
The 18-year-old, who performed very well in his team’s FA Cup victory over Liverpool, might make his first appearance for the Three Lions in friendly matches against Brazil and Belgium after being moved up from the Under-21 squad this week.
Midfield is one area of the pitch where Southgate is somewhat limited in his choices, with few options other than Rice and Jude Bellingham – who has been effectively playing as a No.10 for Real Madrid this season.
Jordan Henderson offers experience and Conor Gallagher has been impressively determined for Chelsea, while James Maddison and Phil Foden can also play deeper roles.
This has created an opportunity for a player with Mainoo’s technical, playmaking abilities and Neville thinks he could be an ideal, Jorginho-like partner for Rice, allowing the Arsenal player to move forward in more of a box-to-box role – as he does for his club.
Speaking on Sky Bet’s Stick to Football podcast, Neville said: ‘I think when Southgate watches Rice [for Arsenal] and how Rice has been helped by Jorginho, I wonder if he’s brought Mainoo in to sit there and have Bellingham and Rice in front.
‘Because they’ll both come back and, to be fair, look after him. I wonder if [Southgate] is thinking, “Well he can handle the ball, the kid” – he’s amazing on the ball.
‘And then you just move Rice forward, because I think Rice isn’t the best at receiving it in tight areas with his back to play.
‘I think he’s better when he’s actually facing the play and running forward.
‘I think Mainoo can receive it in those tight areas, so having him there [in the deepest role] with the other two ahead, is maybe what [Southgate] is considering.’
Fellow pundit Roy Keane agreed, adding: ‘Rice has always had more than just the sitting role. He can definitely play in a more advanced position.’
On the United player Mainoo most reminds him of, Keane continued: ‘I’d say that Kobbie Mainoo is more similar to Nicky Butt than Paul Scholes, but that’s because Scholes played further forward when he first joined Manchester United.
‘What makes these young players successful is their personalities and their temperament, so I would compare Mainoo to Butt and Scholes in their first three months at the club.
‘It’s all about how players settle into the first team and how they cope with the challenges, playing at Old Trafford, but from what I’ve seen, Mainoo looks great, but he’s got lots to learn in that position.'
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