England vs. Argentina: Two reasons why Kobbie Mainoo could be secret weapon in World Cup semi-final

Manchester United starlet and England outcast Kobbie Mainoo could beryllium Thomas Tuchel's concealed limb against Argentina for 2 reasons, a Red Devils fable has told Sports Mole.

The 21-year-old was named successful Tuchel's 26-man England World Cup squad aft resurrecting his Man United vocation nether Michael Carrick, starting 16 Premier League matches arsenic the Red Devils secured a instrumentality to the Champions League.

However, Mainoo has not been fixed a azygous accidental to impressment astatine the 2026 World Cup, having been an unused substitute successful each of England's six matches truthful far.

Even erstwhile an under-the-weather Declan Rice was taken disconnected astatine fractional clip against Norway, Eberechi Eze was selected to travel connected alternatively of Mainoo, and Reece James was besides preferred successful midfield towards the extremity of the quarter-final victory.

Man United large Gary Pallister has expressed astonishment astatine Mainoo's deficiency of minutes, but helium has affirmed that the midfielder could inactive marque a quality against Argentina owed to his oculus for extremity and quality to "inject energy" into a match.

Why Kobbie Mainoo could beryllium England's concealed limb successful Argentina game

"I americium a spot amazed that Kobbie Mainoo hasn’t got a look successful yet," Pallister said. "In conditions wherever keeping the shot is paramount, I deliberation he’d suit the squad precise well. He’s precise bully astatine manipulating the ball, keeping possession of it and uncovering a pass.

"He has suffered for a while, particularly successful the archetypal fractional of past play nether Ruben Amorim, truthful he’s astir apt utilized to this happening by now.

"I would emotion to spot him get much minutes, but however tin you reason with Thomas Tuchel’s decisions erstwhile the squad keeps winning? There volition ever beryllium questions asked astir Tuchel’s tactics and substitutions, but those questions volition halt if they spell connected to triumph the World Cup.

"It volition beryllium a frustrating clip for Kobbie, but who knows what could hap for the remainder of the tournament? He could inactive person a portion to play due to the fact that helium tin inject vigor into immoderate crippled and helium has a extremity successful him."

Mainoo is conscionable 1 of 3 England outfield players yet to play a azygous infinitesimal astatine the World Cup, alongside Ivan Toney and Trevoh Chalobah, the second of whom was a precocious replacement for the injured Tino Livramento.

Is Kobbie Mainoo's Man United aboriginal astatine risk?

While Mainoo struggles for minutes successful North America, Man United are astir to bring successful 2 caller midfielders, having already confirmed the signing of Andrey Santos from Chelsea for £50m.

A £35m swoop for Aston Villa's Youri Tielemans is besides adjacent to completion, aft the Red Devils deed the intermission fastener connected a woody for Atalanta BC's Ederson owed to a reported aesculapian issue.

Tielemans, Santos and Mainoo are each much technically-minded players than Ederson and the departing Casemiro, whom Man United are yet to regenerate with a axenic fig six who tin interruption up attacks.

Carrick is expected to prosecute specified a midfielder earlier the model shuts, perchance leaving Mainoo, Santos and Tielemans to conflict for 1 remaining midfield spot if Bruno Fernandes stays enactment arsenic expected.

However, with Manuel Ugarte besides acceptable to depart and the Champions League requiring a deeper squad, Mainoo is expected to play a salient relation astatine nine level successful 2026-27.

Gary Pallister was speaking to Sports Mole connected behalf of NetBet Sport.