Jude Bellingham and Ivan Toney gushed over Kobbie Mainoo after the Manchester United youngster made his full England debut on Tuesday night.
The 18-year-old followed up his first cap against Brazil on Saturday with an impressive performance against Belgium, earning himself the Player of the Match award on his maiden start for the national team.
Youri Tielemans scored either side of Toney’s equaliser from the penalty, but Bellingham found a last minute equaliser to avoid a second successive defeat at Wembley.
The Real Madrid star, who himself debuted for England at the age of 17, believes Mainoo will go on to have a great career for club and country, although he is acutely aware of the pressure that will be put on the midfielder’s shoulders.
“He was good tonight,” Bellingham told ITV. “It’s difficult, I’m speaking like the old head and I know there’s a clamour [for him to be picked] but he is definitely a brilliant player and he will have a great future for Manchester United and hopefully for England too.”
Toney, who was also making his full debut against the Belgians, was blown away by the level of performance he saw from a player so young.
“At 18 I was probably playing on the Xbox and he is out there being a man and playing for England,” the Brentford striker told Sky Sports News after the final whistle.
“He just glides with the ball and I’m sure there’s more to come from him and he will go right to the top.”
Mainoo has put himself in pole position to take one of the midfielder slots in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for Euro 2024 just months after breaking into the Man Utd first team.
