10-cap England star told how to force his way into Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad

Jeff Stelling and Ally McCoist believe the ‘only way’ Kobbie Mainoo goes to the World Cup is by impressing in the March international break.

Mainoo faces an uphill battle to force his way into England boss Thomas Tuchel’s plans given he has not played for the Three Lions since September 2024.

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The exile from international football was compounded by his absence from Manchester United’s starting line-up under Ruben Amorim.

Mainoo’s repeated cameos off the bench during Amorim’s tenure led to his half-brother wearing a ‘free Kobbie Mainoo’ t-shirt during a wild 4-4 draw with Bournemouth last December.

Mainoo’s return to prominence

However, following Amorim’s axing and Michael Carrick’s appointment as the Red Devils’ interim manager, Mainoo has been brought back in from the freezing cold.

Mainoo has started all five matches under Carrick, with United winning four and drawing one.

His return to the starting line-up has inevitably reignited discussions regarding Mainoo’s international future ahead of the World Cup.

As it stands, McCoist and Stelling shared the belief Mainoo is not on the plane just yet given he has only started a handful of matches this term.

But a recall to the Three Lions for the March international break, where England will face Uruguay and Japan on March 27 and March 31 respectively, could give Mainoo a golden opportunity to ‘stake his claim.’

Adding to the already-difficult task is the fact Mainoo has to force his way into what is already a stacked central midfield department in the England set-up, with the likes of Declan Rice, Jordan Henderson, Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton all ahead of the United ace in the pecking order.

Stelling and McCoist’s verdict on Mainoo’s difficult England task

“I think it’s a straight choice,” Stelling said on talkSPORT Breakfast.

“I think it’s Adam Wharton or Kobbie Mainoo.

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“At the moment, Wharton’s been in recent squads and Mainoo hasn’t because he’s been out of favour at Manchester United. But that might change.

“If Mainoo is in the squad for the games in March, that’s his chance to stake his claim. He won’t get another chance.”

McCoist replied: “I think you made a good point.

“I think Kobbie Mainoo’s only chance of going is making this next squad or an injury to somebody.

“But he has come back in and made a difference at Manchester United.”

Tuchel has already had a glimpse of Mainoo up close as he watched United’s 1-1 draw away to West Ham United.

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Stelling and McCoist agreed it wasn’t Mainoo’s best performance, with the Rangers great claiming the midfielder’s games in the lead-up to the Hammers result ‘were far better’.

McCoist added: “I don’t think he had a poor game, but I don’t think he was as good as he’s been in some of his games prior to that.

“He’ll come into his (Tuchel’s) thoughts. But I’m not sure he’s done enough to get ahead of Wharton at this moment in time. He might.”

At this point, Stelling believes Rice, Henderson and Anderson are ‘nailed on’ for a spot in Tuchel’s World Cup squad.

And unfortunately for Mainoo, the talkSPORT Breakfast host tipped Wharton to ‘just edge out’ the Red Devils ace.