Kobbie Mainoo to start for England vs Belgium as Man United star aims for EURO 2024

Kobbie Mainoo is set to start for England for the first time as the Manchester United star aims to break his way into the EURO 2024 squad.

Kobbie Mainoo‘s rise in senior football has been meteoric, with the Manchester United midfielder taking just a few months to establish himself as an important part of Erik ten Hag‘s midfield trio alongside Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro.

The 18-year-old was recently called up to England‘s first-team squad for the first time last week, with Gareth Southgate gifting the player his first cap for England during their 1-0 loss against Brazil last weekend.

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According to the information from Manchester Evening News, Mainoo will be handed his first start for England as they face Belgium on Tuesday evening.

Mainoo will start alongside Arsenal’s Declan Rice in what many believe is England’s strongest midfield pairing after an injury to Ajax’s Jordan Henderson has ruled him out of the tie.

Mainoo targeting EUROs

Kobbie Mainoo has already explained that he is now targeting being on the plane for the upcoming European Championships, set to take place in Germany.

 “I think that’s the end goal for the season, to get into that squad,” he told the media last week. “But obviously, I’ve got to focus on club football in the meantime, and hopefully that’ll figure itself out.”