Gareth Southgate told he has found 'the answer' to England's biggest Euro 2024 problem

Former Manchester United defender Wes Brown believes Gareth Southgate has found “the answer” to England’s biggest Euro 2024 problem with Kobbie Mainoo’s inclusion. Mainoo was entrusted to make his first start at a major tournament against Slovakia, where he shone brightly in midfield.

The United star, 19, was England’s best player on an otherwise dismal night, where they were looking down the barrel of a shock last-16 exit before Jude Bellingham’s last-gasp bicycle kick, followed by Harry Kane’s extra-time winner. Mainoo had already been substituted when the goals finally rained, but the teenager had already shown calmness and quality beyond his years on the biggest stage.

Southgate finally decided to start the Red Devils academy graduate, having experimented with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Conor Gallagher alongside Declan Rice in midfield for the opening three games of the tournament. But he finally stumbled upon a formula that works when he brought on Mainoo in the second half of the group stage fixture against Slovenia - something Brown claims United fans have pleaded for all along in Germany.

Speaking on Reach's new Euro Thrash podcast - which you can find on YouTube, Apple Podcasts and Spotify - ex-England international Brown said: “He has come in and he's done what he does at United. He is very calm, wants the ball anywhere, not afraid to play it forward and get involved and run forward into areas.

“If you are a United fan, you wanted him in there from the beginning but I think Gareth has seen that performance and gone 'I've got a player'. He's very comfortable and he's very different to Gallagher in that sense. I think he settled England, he's got a nice rhythm with Rice in there and it's working better with Kobbie rather than Gallagher.”

Mainoo displayed confidence and outstanding technique to take on Slovakia’s defenders when England could not break through the lines. He intricately knitted play for 84 minutes - before being taken off for the more attacking Eberechi Eze.

Brown - a five-time Premier League winner - was also impressed with the defensive display, with the exception of John Stones' mistake which almost led to a goal. Yet he still hopes Southgate will give the England stars a "rollicking" ahead of their quarter-final clash with Switzerland.

He added: "Sometimes it is not your day. I don't think that was the case for any individuals, it wasn't any calamities or big, big errors - although there nearly was - but ultimately everyone played the game safe-ish.

"As a defender, I didn't think we were in too much trouble, the only problems were our own mistakes and nothing that we shouldn't be able to sort out. But you still hope the manager gives them a bit of a rollicking, just to sort their heads out and to make sure the concentration levels go up."