Jack Wilshere feels bad for Conor Gallagher but happy with Kobbie Mainoo after performance against Slovenia
In his recent article for The Sun, Jack Wilshere had nothing but praise for Man United’s midfield starlet, Kobbie Mainoo.
The 19-year-old came on at half time in England’s last Euro 2024 group stage game against Slovenia, as Conor Gallagher got hooked by Gareth Southgate, and proved to be one of the more lively players in the 0-0 draw.
“Mainoo’s performances left the former Arsenal midfielder waxing lyrical about him in his Sun article.
“Kobbie Mainoo was always my preference to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold in England’s midfield. I think he showed why in the second half tonight.
“But I still feel that it was harsh on Conor Gallagher that he was taken off at half time. Firstly because it was probably our best half of the tournament. And secondly, because it didn’t feel like a Gareth Southgate thing to do.
“It will knock Gallagher’s confidence for sure. He will have thought that this was his chance, but he only gets a half.
“Having said that, despite the disappointing result, the second half was better and Mainoo proved he is the man – or boy – to play there in future. He’s only 19 but he understands the game so well and knows what it needs. He is better on the ball than Gallagher and he also allowed Declan Rice to get forward even more in the second half than he had in the first.”
Wilshere on Southgate putting Mainoo on for Gallagher against Slovenia in the second half
Wilshere’s praise arrives on the back of a Mainoo performance that looked even more lively in when playing within the over-cautious setup of Gareth Southgate, which has brought both him and England a lot of criticism both back home and in Europe.
Having broken into the Euro squad almost at the eleventh hour with his increasingly strong performances for Man United in the second half of the season gone by, including a goal-scoring outing in the FA Cup final, which United won, Mainoo has now made a case for himself to make the starting XI for England in the knockouts.
England face Slovakia in the Round of 16 of Euro 2024 on Sunday.
Mainoo cannot stop growing
There’s no denying it: Mainoo’s growth over the past 12 months has been astronomical.
From being a promising fringe player at United, he has gone on to become a starter at club level and is now making it hard for Southgate to drop him going forward.
Of course, with all the hype comes a fair share of criticism too, which Mainoo received before the Euros as England lost a home friendly to Iceland.
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It will be crucial for Southgate to carry out a balancing act of maximising his team’s potential while also protecting his players.
