19 February 2024 , 11:07
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Gary Lineker has dismissed Micah Richards' concerns that Kobbie Mainoo could be 'spoiled' if he is called up by England.
Mainoo has starred for Manchester United, having broken into Erik ten Hag's side this season after missing the first part of the campaign through injury. He played all 90 minutes on Sunday as the Red Devils claimed a narrow win over Luton.
His recent performances have led to calls for the midfielder to be brought into Gareth Southgate's Three Lions team. But former Premier League title winner Richards is concerned that fast-tracking Mainoo's England career could be detrimental.
"It's just him composure. The game today, when it was getting frantic, he was the only one really able to get his foot on the ball and in possession. In regards to England, it's always a tough one," he told The Rest Is Football podcast.
"On ability, I would take him. Because he's dealt with the whole pressure of United and fitting in. Do you remember a couple of games back he actually made a mistake that led to a goal, but he bounced back from that, it didn't affect him, so you see his true character there.
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"The only thing is though, if we rush him too soon, is it going to spoil him. Is that going to be too much pressure? I was listening to an interview with Mourinho and he said what's special about Jude is that he had his football away from the English media hype.
"He was able to go about his business without that pressure. And I just worry that if Mainoo was to go and play and start and do well, are we going to put too much pressure on him. But I agree, in that position, apart from Rice there's no one playing better. It's a conundrum."
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Mainoo has starred for Manchester United in recent weeks (PA)Though Richards is worried about Mainoo's future if he is quickly called up by Southgate, Lineker has now played that down. The Three Lions legend has insisted Mainoo would be a better option than Jordan Henderson or Kalvin Phillips.
"I really like him. I saw Ian Wright tweeted tonight that he has to be called up by England. And it is you would say there's a space alongside Declan Rice. He might play Alexander-Arnold in there," Lineker said.
"He likes Kalvin Phillips, but he's had his difficulties and is struggling at West Ham. The other alternative is Jordan Henderson, he went to watch him at Ajax. He's been to Saudi, now he's playing in not anything like as strong a league as the Premier League.
"And this young man, every time I see him I think he is so impressive, so mature. If you're good enough, you're old enough. You can either handle the pressure or you can't. You find that out at 18, 19, 20. Imagine how much he could learn.
"I'm not saying he's going to be in the starting line-up, but what would you sooner have in terms of a player that won't play many games: a Kalvin Phillips, Jordan Henderson or a youngster like Mainoo that will learn off Bellingham, Rice, Maddison.
"I'm just thinking out loud, we always debate about who should be in an England squad. It doesn't half help when you've got good players to pick from rather than mediocre players."
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