Carrick revival rescues Mainoo from Napoli loan and earns England World Cup place

Kobbie Mainoo’s turnaround from fringe player to England World Cup squad member is one of the more striking stories of the domestic season — and it hinged on a single managerial change at Manchester United.

The 21-year-old had barely featured under Ruben Amorim in the first half of last season, to the point where a mid-season loan to Napoli was being considered. United’s decision to sack Amorim in early January and appoint former midfielder Michael Carrick changed everything. Within weeks, Mainoo was back at the centre of the team and, having not started a Premier League game until mid-January, he finished the campaign in the best form of his career.

The improvement was significant enough to earn a recall to the England squad in March — his first inclusion since September 2024 — and ultimately a spot in Thomas Tuchel’s 26-man squad for the World Cup in North America.

Mainoo had first announced himself on the international stage at Euro 2024, where he started on the periphery before becoming a regular starter across all four knockout games. But the two years since had seen him lose ground to younger rivals. Adam Wharton, who was behind Mainoo in that Euro 2024 squad, appeared to have moved ahead of him, and Elliot Anderson — not even in contention two years ago — is now considered a near-certain starter alongside Declan Rice in Tuchel’s midfield.

The evolution in Mainoo’s game has been notable. The teenager who was outstanding in possession but inconsistent defensively has developed into a more complete midfielder, combining his technical quality with greater physical presence, improved reading of the game, and sharper defensive awareness.

His performances have not gone unnoticed among his England teammates. Newcastle United full-back Tino Livramento, speaking on England’s in-house media show this week, highlighted Mainoo’s instinctive passing ability.

“One thing that’s like, seeing Kobbie play two-touch. He’s so good at two-touch. He’d be passing it or flicking it with his ankle and that,” Livramento said.

Mainoo may begin the tournament behind Anderson and Rice in the pecking order, but with the demands of a World Cup in summer heat, his opportunity is likely to come. The near-miss of a January loan exit makes the trajectory all the more striking.