The senior England team under Gareth Southgate has been augmented with Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo in advance of the March internationals.

Despite his impressive performances at the club level this season, Southgate did not include the 18-year-old in his first 25-man roster. The England manager stated that he did not want to overburden Mainoo at this point in his career.

Although Mainoo was initially selected for the first time in his career in the Under-21 team, England has now officially announced that he will be joining the senior system.

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Mainoo is merely joining the team for the forthcoming friendlies; England confirmed on Tuesday that the initial 25-man group had all reported to St George’s Park. He has not joined as an injury replacement.

Kobbie Mainoo Receives England Squad Call-Up for Brazil & Belgium Friendlies

Mainoo has played for England at the Under-17 and Under-19 levels, but he will now forego his Under-21 assignment in order to compete for his first senior cap.

With this elevation, Mainoo continues his incredible breakthrough season with the senior England squad. The adolescent midfielder had an impressive preseason before suffering an ankle injury that kept him out of play for more than two months. However, when he returned to action for United, he immediately made an impact.

This season, Erik ten Hag has given Mainoo 20 appearances across all competitions, including 14 Premier League starts.

At first, Southgate resisted calls for an England debut. He acknowledged Mainoo’s talent but cautioned, drawing comparisons to the rises of Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka, who both had twice as much senior experience prior to their debuts for their country.

But Mainoo now has the opportunity to get his first cap in the forthcoming friendly at Wembley Stadium against Brazil and Belgium.