Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo is back in the England squad – and he has a unique edge over his rivals.
Kobbie Mainoo’s recall to the England squad underlined his resurgence under current head coach Michael Carrick.
Mainoo was not selected to start a single Premier League game in the first half of the season, a truly shocking error of judgement from Ruben Amorim.
Amorim’s sacking provided Mainoo with a fresh chance, and the Manchester United midfielder has started all 10 games under Michael Carrick to date.
Mainoo has been called up to the England squad for the first time this season, and his lack of game time can give him a real edge over his competitors.
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Kobbie Mainoo at the end of the Premier League match between Manchester United and Aston Villa at Old Trafford in Manchester, England, in 2026.
Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP via Getty Images
Kobbie Mainoo runs with the ball
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
How fresh Kobbie Mainoo compares
Thomas Tuchel has named a 35-man England squad as he runs the rule over his options ahead of the World Cup.
And then there are a multitude of competitors, the best thing a player can do is stand out by being unique. Enter, Kobbie Mainoo.
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Kobbie Mainoo is unique because he has played the fewest minutes of any England midfielder all season.
Mainoo has played only 1,181 minutes. This is less than a third of the 3,781 minutes played by Arsenal’s Declan Rice.
Part of this is down to Rice playing in more competitions. But a big part of it is also the way Mainoo was overlooked by Ruben Amorim.
The next closest player to play the fewest minutes is Brentford midfielder Jordan Henderson, who has played 1,824 minutes – still substantially more than Mainoo.
Player Club Appearances Total Minutes
Declan Rice Arsenal 49 3,781
James Garner Everton 33 2,968
Elliot Anderson Nottingham Forest 30 2,774
Adam Wharton Crystal Palace 36 2,767
Morgan Rogers Aston Villa 30 2,680
Jude Bellingham Real Madrid 30 2,085
Jordan Henderson Brentford 29 1,824
Kobbie Mainoo Manchester United 23 1,183
Mainoo’s edge is unexpected benefit of Amorim snub
Kobbie Mainoo has had to develop mental strength over the past season to come through his difficult spell under Ruben Amorim.
He has shown under Michael Carrick that he has responded well, and fully deserves his call-up for England.
By time the World Cup arrives, players like Declan Rice will have even more minutes under their belt, and be increasingly fatigued.
Mainoo is a unique case as he will be fresher than his colleagues, and fresher than many of the opponents he will face.
Amorim’s snub won’t have felt like it, but it could end up doing him a big favour.
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