Thomas Tuchel is set to announce his England squad on Friday for the March international break and Manchester United fans’ focus should be on Kobbie Mainoo.
Kobbie Mainoo has not represented England since 2024 and his last appearance for the Three Lions came in the Nations League win against the Republic of Ireland.
A real standout for Sir Gareth Southgate during England’s Euro 2024 run in Germany, Mainoo’s playing career has had a bumpy ride before finally being put back on track.
From losing his place in the Manchester United XI under Ruben Amorim to being ‘reborn’ as a player under Michael Carrick, Mainoo appears set for an England return.
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Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Crystal Palace at Old Trafford in Manchester, England, in 2026.
Photo by Mark Cosgrove/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images
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Kobbie Mainoo of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Fulham at Old Trafford on February 1, 2026
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Kobbie Mainoo is the answer to breaking the Man Utd ‘curse’ that has lingered during Thomas Tuchel’s England reign
The eyebrow-raising stat for Manchester United fans will be how long the Red Devils’ ‘blackout period’ has lasted under Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions managerial spell.
Tuchel was announced as the replacement for Sir Gareth Southgate as England manager in 2024 before his formal appointment took place in January 2025.
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Since the 52-year-old German head coach’s reign began, no current United first-team player at Old Trafford has featured under him for the England national side.
United fans will be pointing to Marcus Rashford to dispute such a claim, but the England star has been on loan on both occasions he has featured under Tuchel.
Marcus Rashford has played for both Aston Villa and Barcelona in separate loan spells since the 28-year-old United talent climbed back into the England squad.
It feels like a lifetime since a United player who is currently at Old Trafford has been in the England squad, but Kobbie Mainoo is well-positioned to break that ‘curse.’
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Should Kobbie Mainoo be in the England squad for the 2026 World Cup?
After recent form, will Thomas Tuchel be convinced?
Kobbie Mainoo during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium in 2026 in London, England.
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
From his resurgence under Michael Carrick to Thomas Tuchel’s own comments, Kobbie Mainoo must be in the England squad
Mainoo’s actions have spoken louder than words ever could after his remarkable resurgence under United legend Michael Carrick at Old Trafford since January.
The 20-year-old midfielder had not made a single start under ex-United manager Ruben Amorim in the 2025-26 season before the Portuguese coach was sacked.
However, Mainoo has started all nine Premier League matches in Carrick’s interim reign so far and completed 90 minutes on eight occasions for the Red Devils.
Amid the Stockport-born talent’s turnaround in form at Old Trafford, even Tuchel has not been able to overlook Mainoo ahead of the World Cup this summer.
When asked about Mainoo in February, Tuchel said: “Absolutely back in the frame! First of all, it is great that he is back on the pitch. He is such a huge talent.”
As per BBC Sport, the England manager added: “He has already played a tournament from start to finish for England, so he is back in the picture, so is Luke Shaw and so is Harry Maguire.”
For the March break, Mainoo must be called up for the England national team and have his chance to put himself back in the picture for the 2026 World Cup squad.
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