Gareth Southgate addresses decision to leave Man Utd star Kobbie Mainoo out of England squad

Gareth Southgate has suggested he wants to hold out on promoting Kobbie Mainoo to the England senior squad until the youngster has more games under his belt.

Mainoo had been touted as a potential surprise inclusion in the England squad for upcoming friendlies against Brazil and Belgium, given his outstanding form at Manchester United. The 18-year-old only made his Premier League debut in November but has been one of Erik ten Hag's key players ever since.

That rise in prominence will be rewarded with a first ever call-up to Lee Carsley's under-21s squad, but Mainoo's name was not one of the 25 announced by Southgate on Thursday. Nevertheless, the England boss had some high praise.

"I think he's doing brilliantly for a young player," Southgate said of Mainoo in a press conference that followed his announcement. "We're never slow to put a young player into the seniors but he's only had a handful of games. He's getting some fabulous experience at Manchester United & looks a really good character."

Involvement with the under-21s, who face Azerbaijan and Luxembourg in their own European Championships qualification campaign, means Mainoo will be at St. George's Park and training not too far away from his senior compatriots. Southgate opted to pick the likes of Harry Maguire and Ben Chilwell who are both carrying injuries, and flare ups for either could mean a quick promotion into the senior set up for one of those promising youngsters.

"Both are back in training, so we have to see how that goes," Southgate said of Maguire and Chilwell. "We obviously have contingency plans in other areas in the pitch, some are in under-21s, the likes of Kobbie Mainoo, Harvey Elliott, Rico Lewis, Archie Gray at Leeds, it's important we have depth with the seniors first."

Maguire has been joined by Marcus Rashford in the 25-man squad for friendlies against Brazil and Belgium, although fellow Reds Mason mount and Luke Shaw have been left out on account of their injuries. Mount has been involved in first-team training this week but has been out of action with a calf issue since November.