Kobbie Mainoo for England? Gareth Southgate hails 'progressive' Man Utd starlet and hints he could still make Euro 2024 squad

At just 18 years old, Mainoo has already made significant strides in his career and is being viewed as a potential future star in United's midfield. He has already been capped by England up to the Under-19 level and his recent impressive performances for the Red Devils have forced senior team manager Southgate to take note of the youngster.

“He’s doing brilliantly,” the England manager said after Thursday’s UEFA Nations League draw in Paris. “I’m not certain he’s necessarily going to be a defensive midfielder, as such. He’s quite a progressive player but he’s had a fabulous start to his career and it will be good to monitor him as we go forward.”

Mainoo's meteoric rise to prominence at Old Trafford, especially after his heroics in a 4-3 victory over Wolves earlier this month, has led Ghana to take an active interest in securing his allegiance. Randy Abbey, a member of the executive council of the country's FA, revealed in an interview with The Times: "The Ghana Football Association is interested in monitoring, attracting, and persuading all eligible talents for its various national teams. Kobbie is definitely one of these incredible talents, and the association would love to work with him and many like him at home and abroad."

Although Mainoo was born in Stockport both of his parents hail from Ghana, making him eligible to represent the West African nation. According to FIFA rules, a player can choose to switch allegiance if he has not played any more than three senior competitive games for a particular national team before the age of 21. However, friendlies are not considered in this criteria.

Mainoo's case is not unique, as other players like Tariq Lamptey, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Eddie Nketiah have faced similar decisions regarding their international allegiance. Both Hudson-Odoi and Nketiah remain eligible to play for Ghana despite being capped by England at the senior level.

As Mainoo continues to impress on the field, the football world eagerly awaits his decision regarding international allegiance. Nonetheless, regardless of his decision to represent England or Ghana, there is little doubt that Mainoo's talent will shine brightly on the global stage if he continues on his current trajectory.