Mainoo & Toney set to start for England

According to BBC Sport, both Kobbie Mainoo and Ivan Toney will make their first starts for England this evening as the Three Lions take on Belgium at Wembley Stadium.

Gareth Southgate has been full of praise for 18-year-old Mainoo and has been quick to speak of caution when using him but it does appear likely that the Manchester United midfielder will earn his second cap this evening after coming off the bench against Brazil for the final 20 minutes of Saturday’s 1-0 loss.

Ivan Toney will replace Ollie Watkins in leading the line against the Belgians with the Brentford striker also earning his second cap. His first came off the bench in a 2-0 defeat of Ukraine exactly a year ago to the day in a UEFA EURO 2024 qualifier at Wembley.

Stockport-born Mainoo has made 20 appearances for the Red Devils in his first breakout season at Old Trafford, whilst Toney has scored four goals in ten matches for the Bees since returning from his gambling ban in January.

Both players are hoping to fulfil roles that are desperately required in the England setup as there is an opening in central midfield alongside Declan Rice, who is set to captain England for the first time this evening, and Jude Bellingham. Conor Gallagher and Jordan Henderson are also competing for that role.

Ivan Toney, on the other hand, is competing with Ollie Watkins for the ‘backup to Harry Kane’ berth in Southgate’s 23-man squad this summer.

UEFA EURO 2024 begins on Friday 14th July with England’s first match at 20:00 on Sunday 16th July. They play two warm-up friendlies in England against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iceland before the tournament begins.