EXCLUSIVE
talkSPORT pundit Darren Bent's jaw was on the floor after being told Kobbie Mainoo is England's most important player.
The Manchester United starlet was a late call-up to the England squad this week and made his debut against Brazil on Saturday, before being named in the starting line-up against Belgium on Tuesday.
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The 18-year-old ace was awarded the man of the match for his display on his full debut.
It has sparked plenty of praise for Mainoo, not least from talkSPORT pundit and Man United fan Andy Goldstein, who went as far as to call him England's most important player.
Sitting alongside him was fellow talkSPORT pundit Bent, who did well to stay in his seat after being left shocked by such a claim.
"I do think Kobbie Mainoo is possibly our most important player going into this Euros," claimed Goldstein.
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Bent had to restrain himself as he said: "You are… honestly, I nearly said something then!"
Goldstein insisted: "Hear me out, hear me out. If Harry Kane is injured, we replace him with… [Bent replies Ivan Toney] happy days.
"If you get an injury to Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford, Jack Grealish or James Maddison, one of the others of those goes in.
"If Mainoo, who do you replace him with?
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Bent insisted Declan Rice but Goldstein hit back: "Declan Rice is already playing."
Bent then replied with Trent Alexander-Arnold as Goldstein said: "Does Trent do that job? That is not his role.
Inspired by Ronaldinho and influenced by Manchester United duo Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo wants to emulate Jude Bellingham
"We have been looking for this player for a long, long time. What I am not saying is he is our best player and I am not saying without him we can't win the Euros.
"What I am saying is that all the other key elements that we have, if Bellingham gets injured, I thought Maddison looked great there.
"I am not saying that Maddison is as good as Bellingham. What I am saying is we struggle in that role of linking defence to attack.
"It has proved so difficult to do at international level for a long, long time and I think now those two, Rice and Mainoo, look like they fit the bill perfectly."
There are certainly question marks over how Gareth Southgate will set up at the Euros this summer in Germany, particularly over who will partner Rice in midfield.
Kalvin Phillips and Jordan Henderson appear to have played themselves out of contention through poor form, while Jude Bellingham must be played further forward to take advantage of his goal threat and scoring abilities.
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While Alexander-Arnold could be an option, it is not a role he is fully accustomed to, while Conor Gallagher did not do himself any favours over the international break with some shoddy displays.
Mainoo, then, might genuinely be England's best option next to Rice - especially if he continues to impress for United as he has done already.