Gareth Southgate explains why Kobbie Mainoo was left out of his England squad… as the Three Lions boss says midfielder ‘looks a really good character’

Gareth Southgate has explained his reason for leaving Kobbie Mainoo out of his latest England squad.

Southgate named a 25-man squad to take on Brazil and Belgium in friendlies over the next fortnight, with the Three Lions boss getting his players together for the last time before the summer’s Euros.

With a number of players missing due to injury including Luke Shaw and Jack Grealish, Southgate was afforded the opportunity to experiment with some fringe players for the first time.

Anthony Gordon and Jarrad Branthwaite both received their maiden senior team call-ups, while the likes of Cole Palmer and Joe Gomez have been given the chance to impress ahead of the tournament.

Mainoo’s absence from the squad was notable, however, with many clambering for his call-up on the back of an impressive season for Manchester United. Southgate, however, has detailed why it’s too soon for the 18-year-old. 

Mainoo has enjoyed a successful season with Manchester United and fans had hoped he would earn a spot

Southgate (pictured) has however left him out, with a spot in the Euros squad now unlikely

‘I think that he’s doing brilliantly for a young player and we’re never slow to put a young player into seniors,’ Southgate said. ‘But he’s only had a handful of games and you have to be very careful development-wise in making those decisions at the right time.

‘So we think ideally, we should allow him that space to develop at his own speed. He’s not at the point in terms of number of games that Jude (Bellingham) and Bukayo (Saka) were when they came in for the first time. 

‘But I repeat, he’s doing really well for a young player. He’s a good footballer, you can see that. And he’s getting some fabulous experience with Manchester United at the moment. And he looks a really good character.’

Southgate compared Mainoo to Jude Bellingham (left) and Bukayo Saka (right) when they first joined the squad

Mainoo’s absence almost definitely rules out his participation at the Euros in Germany, with it unlikely he will debut in a knockout competition with squads of just 23 permitted.

In midfield, Bellingham, Conor Gallagher, Jordan Henderson, Declan Rice and James Maddison have been included, while Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has regularly played in midfield for his country, is injured.

Kalvin Phillips has, meanwhile, been dropped, but Southgate said he is still open to taking him to Germany.

Kalvin Phillips has been left out of the England squad for his side’s upcoming friendlies against Brazil and Belgium

Phillips has struggled for minutes this season and manager Gareth Southgate (left) has left him out his side in response

‘I think he knows exactly what we think of him,’ Southgate said of the West Ham loanee. ‘I think we’ve show that support.

‘A good version of him is a good player for us. That’s why we’ve supported him like we have. We don’t have many players of that profile. Unfortunately, his form hasn’t been good enough. He has all the attributes to force his way back in, and we’re very keen for him to do that.’

‘I told him if he had continued not to play at City, that was going to be a problem.’