“I’d go with Declan Rice sitting, and I’d go with (Kobbie) Mainoo and Jude Bellingham. Mainoo can give you a bit of both, but in tight areas, that’s Mainoo’s biggest strength — and then he has got a little pass.“I think he’s the only one who is capable of doing that in those tight areas.”Those were the words of Wayne Rooney on his BBC podcast before England’s round-of-32 game against DR Congo.Thomas Tuchel opted against using the Manchester United midfielder in that match, as well as in England’s 3-2 victory over Mexico in the last 16. In fact, Mainoo is one of only three outfield players (Ivan Toney and Trevoh Chalobah are the others) who have yet to play a single minute in England’s World Cup campaign.Mainoo was the surprise solution to the team’s midfield issues at Euro 2024, leapfrogging Trent Alexander-Arnold and Conor Gallagher for the central position next to Declan Rice in the knockout stages.But Tuchel has approached the 2026 World Cup differently, constructing a 26-man squad with the intention of maximising Harry Kane’s talents. Elliot Anderson has now become the preferred option alongside Rice in central midfield. When the Arsenal man was rested for England’s final group game against Panama, Tuchel opted to play Bellingham in a deeper role, keeping Mainoo on the bench.“It’s the World Cup and missing out the other day (isn’t a problem),” said Rice of the decision for that Panama game. “We have a squad of 26 who are unbelievable and can play. Kobbie (Mainoo) can play, Jordan (Henderson) can play. Morgan (Rogers) came in and Jude (Bellingham) played as the No 8.”Mainoo’s lack of game time is related to a clash between his skill set and Tuchel’s particular requirements for his midfield. While his ball-carrying through tight spaces has earned him praise from Rooney and made him a crucial player for United, Mainoo cannot quite match Anderson’s physicality for England.Under Tuchel, there is a particular focus on how the trio of “wide unit” combinations at full-back, central midfielder and winger interact and rotate quickly to unsettle opposition defences. Mainoo has the quick passing and game-reading ability of Anderson, but perhaps not the explosive athleticism to perform these tasks to his head coach’s liking. Tuchel’s experimentation using the pair together against Japan in late March encountered teething problems as the team suffered a 1-0 defeat.Kobbie Mainoo’s last England appearance came as a substitute in the pre-World Cup friendly against Costa Rica (Eddie Keogh – The FA via Getty Images)Mainoo’s chances are made more complicated by how England look to accelerate play in the middle third of the pitch.“There are emotional wins you can get as a coach in the first and final thirds — playing out from the back, pressing from the front. But in the middle area of the pitch, those 24 metres, we feel the game has become stuck, particularly in the Premier League,” said England assistant manager Anthony Barry in a November interview with The Guardian. “Everybody has so much information now. They know how to set up — mid-blocks, deep blocks. We are really trying to focus on accelerating the game across those 24 metres.”Barry was critical of England’s approach to midfield progression in a half-time interview during their first group-stage match against Croatia. They were much stronger in the second half, emerging as 4-2 victors without bringing Mainoo off the bench.While Mainoo’s press resistance is good at greasing the wheels of Premier League midfields when things get stodgy, the ball moves faster than any player can skilfully run with it.The 21-year-old’s still-developing passing over longer distances presents a tactical issue for England, and indeed United, as they look to rebuild their midfield over the summer. Mainoo can bring calm to a team’s engine room, but at the 2026 World Cup, England seek to win the midfield battle by moving the ball out of central areas as quickly as possible, rather than controlling it via settled possession. Tuchel’s desire for probing passes over longer distances may have been a reason why he preferred to bring in Henderson over Mainoo in the final minutes against Panama.A player who looked expendable for his club under Ruben Amorim before becoming essential again under Michael Carrick stands in an awkward position for his country this summer.Henderson’s freak accident following England’s win over Mexico may have opened the door for Mainoo as a substitute option for Saturday’s quarter-final against Norway.He has experience battling Martin Odegaard and Sander Berge in the past (he was an unused substitute during Patrick Berg’s visit to Old Trafford with Bodo/Glimt), and may yet have something to offer Tuchel’s side if the coach wishes to slow things down in midfield to neutralise Norway’s counter-attacking threat.How do England stop Erling Haaland? Felipe CardenasIf Mainoo is to feature at all in this World Cup, it will most likely come in short bursts for whatever remains of England’s campaign. He will still have a major role to play this summer as United’s pre-season tour begins in earnest and the club looks to sign midfielders to play alongside him for the upcoming season.His future remains bright, even if his footballing present sees him mostly on the bench.