Manchester United starlet Kobbie Mainoo reportedly plans to keep his international options open amid growing interest from England head coach Gareth Southgate.
After catching the eye of Erik ten Hag and Man United supporters during the first half of 2023, Mainoo is beginning to fulfil his potential after an injury-hit first half of the campaign.
The 18-year-old has two goals to show from 14 senior appearances for the Red Devils in the current campaign, opening his account for the 20-time English champions against Newport County in the FA Cup last month.
Just four days after that 4-2 triumph, Mainoo registered his first Premier League goal in dramatic circumstances, scoring a fine solo winner in added time to seal a pulsating 4-3 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The 2005-born fulcrum has now made the first XI in each of Man United's last eight Premier League fixtures, keeping Sofyan Amrabat, Scott McTominay and Christian Eriksen at bay to become Casemiro's first-choice midfield partner.
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On account of his rise to prominence, Mainoo is thought to be in line for a new and improved deal with the Red Devils, and his international situation is understandably a hot topic as well.
The teenager has already represented England at Under-17, Under-18 and Under-19 level, making his debut for the latter team last March and serving as captain in a 3-2 friendly win over Japan back in November.
Senior head coach Southgate was in attendance to watch Mainoo in Man United's 2-1 triumph over Aston Villa on Sunday, and according to the Daily Star, the England boss wants to see the youngster fast-tracked into the Under-21s.
Lee Carsley's side will take on Azerbaijan and Luxembourg in a pair of European Championship qualifiers next month, and Southgate is supposedly of the view that Mainoo needs to be tested at a higher international level.
Furthermore, if Mainoo continues to go from strength to strength domestically over the coming weeks, Southgate could apparently consider promoting him to the first-team group for the next international window.
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The report adds that the Man United protege has pledged his allegiance to England, but in contrast, the Daily Mail states that he is still keeping his options open, as he is eligible to represent Ghana through his family.
Mainoo is supposedly not in a hurry to make a decision on his international future, although he plans to accept an England call-up if he receives one ahead of the March break.
While the FA are said to be optimistic of persuading Mainoo to continue with the Three Lions on his shirt, he can switch nationality if he only partakes in friendlies, and up until his 21st birthday, he is able to change allegiance if he has played in under three competitive games.
England have no competitive commitments scheduled until Euro 2024, as they will face Brazil and Belgium in a friendly double-header next month before warming up for the continental championships against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iceland three months later.
Unless Mainoo is handed a shock call-up for Euro 2024, the teenager is not expected to make a final call on his international future until the autumn, by which point he will have a clearer idea whether he can expect regular starts for England.
Ben Knapton
