Paul Scholes compares Kobbie Mainoo to two international superstars, he would transform England

Paul Scholes has claimed that Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo would transform England’s side, comparing him to two international superstars at the 2024 European Championships.

Despite leading their group at the 2024 European Championships in Germany, Gareth Southgate’s England team has been underwhelming.

Manchester United‘s Luke Shaw and Kobbie Mainoo are part of the 26-man squad, but their contributions have been minimal. Mainoo has only played nine minutes across two games, while Shaw has yet to feature due to injury.

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Mainoo’s lack of minutes following his brilliant 2024 with United has baffled many, especially consiering that even those such as Declan Rice have waxed lyrical about how fantastic it is to play with the 19-year-old.

Trent Alexander-Arnold has been the man playing alongside Rice during the opening two games, but the latest reports have suggested that Chelsea’s Connor Gallager will fill this role on Tuesday eveing against Slovenia.

However, Paul Scholes feels that, if Mainoo were to play isntead, this would allow the rest the squad to “play football”.

“Now, with Kobbie Mainoo, if Kobbie Mainoo came in, all of a sudden, you have control; you have a player who makes your team play football,” he told TNT Sports. “Sometimes, it takes just one player to be able to do that.”

Further, Scholes then compared this to the impact that Toni Kroos and Rodri have on their respective clubs and countries.

“You think of Tony Kross with Germany—he just makes them play football; he makes Real Madrid play football. I think Rodrigo with Manchester City and Spain makes your team play football, and I think Kobbie Mainoo has got that, the ability to do that.

“All of a sudden, it frees up the likes of Jude Bellingham; he’s not worried about having to come back all the time and try and help with the build-up because he’s brilliant going forward, Phil Photen exactly the same.

“I just think that one change could make a hell of a difference to this team and fingers crossed, you know, they’re going to get better. Of course, they’ll win tomorrow, and I think history tells you that they do get better and better as long as the tournament goes on, and fingers crossed it happens.

“It’s a little bit worrying at the minute, but with a good performance tomorrow, hopefully, they’ll all be put to bed.”

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