Former England captain Wayne Rooney has urged England manager Thomas Tuchel to start Kobbie Mainoo ahead of Elliot Anderson in England’s FIFA World Cup Round of 32 clash against DR Congo.
Rooney believes the Manchester United midfielder possesses the technical quality needed to unlock stubborn defences and should be partnered with Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham in midfield.
Rooney said Mainoo’s ability to operate in tight spaces makes him the ideal choice for the knockout encounter.
The 21-year-old has yet to feature at the tournament despite returning to England’s setup after re-establishing himself at Manchester United under Carrick.
Rooney argued that Mainoo’s composure on the ball and eye for a decisive pass would provide England with greater creativity in midfield.
Mainoo has not earned a competitive England appearance since September 2024 but regained international recognition following a series of impressive displays for Manchester United.
In contrast, Anderson has started all three of England’s group-stage matches and is reportedly close to completing a club-record £116 million move from Nottingham Forest to Manchester City.
Former England striker Emile Heskey also questioned Mainoo’s lack of playing time, revealing his surprise that veteran Jordan Henderson was introduced during England’s 2-0 victory over Panama instead of the young midfielder.
Heskey believes Mainoo has several major tournaments ahead of him and would benefit greatly from gaining valuable experience on the World Cup stage.
Rooney also suggested tactical adjustments for England, stating that Jude Bellingham could play a deeper midfield role against teams that defend with a low block, while Morgan Rogers is better suited to operating further forward.
He added that Bellingham’s energy and intensity make him an effective option in a deeper position when England need greater control in midfield.
Discussing Anderson’s proposed big-money transfer, both Rooney and Heskey urged supporters not to judge the midfielder solely by his price tag.
Rooney described Anderson as a “fantastic player” but warned that expensive transfers do not always guarantee success, citing previous examples of players who struggled to adapt after high-profile moves.
England face DR Congo in the last 32 on Wednesday, with a place in the World Cup round of 16 at stake.
