Manchester United star was just bizarrely snubbed at the World Cup

Man Utd midfielder Kobbie Mainoo was a late inclusion in England’s squad for the World Cup in the United States.

Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo was overlooked by Thomas Tuchel again in England’s final World Cup group game against Panama. Tuchel introduced Jordan Henderson in the 84th minute, but Mainoo was an unused substitute.

Henderson was a controversial inclusion in England’s squad for the tournament. The 36-year-old returned to the Premier League when he signed for Brentford last year after playing for Ajax and Al-Ettifaq.

Mainoo worked hard to get into the England squad, so will be disappointed not to have played a single minute so far. The Stockport-born midfielder is one of three outfield players in the squad (along with Trevoh Chalobah and Ivan Toney) not to have been given a single minute.

Mainoo did not start a Premier League game this season for United until Ruben Amorim was sacked in January. Michael Carrick immediately reinstated him to the team, and his sparkling form in the second half of the campaign earned him a place in England’s squad for the World Cup.

Reflecting on the first half of his season, Mainoo told England reporters in the USA: “I mean, obviously there were difficult times.

“But I tried to keep my focus on what was in front of me, take things day by day and just keep working my craft, keep working hard for the team, and I hoped the rest would come. Thankfully it has.”

When asked if he had Carrick to partly thank for his World Cup call-up, he said: “Definitely, and I told him that I was very grateful. Because if he hadn’t put me on the pitch, then I wouldn’t have been here so, I’m always grateful to him for that.”

Henderson was important for Brentford last season, but anyone who watched him and Mainoo in the Premier League should agree that it was strange to see him get onto the pitch over the United talent against Panama.

The former Liverpool midfielder has been picked for the leadership he can offer, and is said to be very close to Jude Bellingham. However, he is the past for England, and Mainoo will be a big part of the future.

Tuchel insisted Mainoo had a role to play at the World Cup when he sat down for his first press conference of the tournament.

“The squad has a significant number of players that will compete for starting minutes and starting places, [which] also gives us the chance to rotate on a high level and a significant number of players who carry the [sporting] responsibility on the highest level,” he said.

“We have a huge chunk of youthfulness in the squad. We have six players who have won titles with the under-21s. We have Kobbie, who is still young and has won his titles [and] we have Nico O’Reilly on top, who is young and already won his medals.”

Mainoo has watched the action from the bench, while O’Reilly has started two games and made an appearance from the bench in the other.

The irony is that Mainoo has a skillset that would have been hugely beneficial to England in their games against Panama and Ghana, particularly the latter fixture, in which they struggled to unlock a low block.

It was bizarre to see Henderson get into the pitch over Mainoo. Perhaps Tuchel will redeem himself by introducing him from the bench in the knockout rounds.