Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo joins Duncan Edwards, Marcus Rashford in elite group

The midfielder made his debut for Gareth Southgate's side off the bench in Saturday's clash with Brazil.

Mainoo was then handed his full international debut on Tuesday, with Southgate naming the teenager in the starting side for the friendly with Belgium at Wembley.

Aged 18 years and 342 days, he became the third-youngest Man United player to start a match for England, behind Duncan Edwards and Marcus Rashford.

Edwards was 18 years and 183 days old when he first started for England, while Rashford was 18 years and 209 days old on his first start for his country.

Mainoo played 74 minutes of what proved to be a 2-2 draw against Belgium, and the teenager's performances over the international break would have put him firmly in Southgate's thoughts for Euro 2024.

The midfielder will now head back to his club to prepare for Saturday's Premier League game against Brentford, where he will be bidding to make his 15th league appearance of the campaign.

«He gives us a different profile of midfield player to anything else we've got and we're really pleased with what he's done,» Southgate told reporters when discussing the teenager's display.

«You can't believe his age really. His attributes are there for everybody to see, that ability to receive under pressure and ride challenges, to manipulate the ball in tight areas.»

Meanwhile, England midfielder Jude Bellingham, who netted his country's late leveller against Belgium, was also full of praise for Mainoo on Tuesday night.

«He was good tonight,» said the Real Madrid midfielder. «It's difficult, and I am speaking like