Kobbie Mainoo will have to postpone his debut for the England A-team for the time being, it seems. Sky Sports reports on Wednesday evening that it is 'unlikely' that national coach Gareth Southgate will include the Manchester United midfielder in his selection for the upcoming friendly matches. That seems to be excellent news for Ajax player Jordan Henderson, a day before Southgate announces his 23-man selection.

“It is unlikely that Kobbie Mainoo will receive his first call-up from national coach Gareth Southgate this week,” it said. “But there are plans to include him in the England Under 21 team for the first time, as the FA has plans to fast-track him into the A team.”

Eighteen-year-old Mainoo is making his breakthrough at Manchester United this season. The central midfielder has recently been assured of a starting place under manager Erik ten Hag and also proved his worth in an attacking sense, when he brilliantly scored the winning 3-4 in injury time of the game against Wolverhampton Wanderers on February 1. Mainoo has played 22 times for Manchester United's main squad to date.

Mainoo has so far represented England in several youth teams. He played for England's Under 17, Under 18 and Under 19 teams. The midfielder seems to have left those youth teams behind him for good, now that his debut with the Under 21s is imminent and a call-up for the England main squad does not seem too far away.

It is not entirely certain that Mainoo would ever play for the main force the Three Lions suits him, as Ghana, the country of birth of his parents, wants to convince him of an international career the Black Stars. However, it is expected that Mainoo will ultimately opt for an international career with England.

On Tuesday, journalist Richard Jolly reported The Independent still that Ajax player Henderson has to fear for a place in the England selection, for which he has already played 81 times. That uncertainty had everything to do with the stormy development of Mainoo, while Kalvin Phillips (West Ham United) is also a competitor of Henderson.

Now that it appears that Mainoo will be passed over for the friendlies against Brazil (March 23) and Belgium (March 26), the chance seems to have increased that Henderson will be in the selection. Southgate visited the Johan Cruijff ArenA at the beginning of February to see Henderson and Ajax in action against PSV (1-1).

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