TALL ORDER
‘Why you laughing’ says Man Utd star Kobbie Mainoo to Cole Palmer as he’s forced to dispel long-standing myth
Both stars also speak about when they first received their England call ups and Palmer admits to a guilty down-time pleasure
KOBBIE MAINOO has proved he will measure up for England - by confirming he is much taller than the internet suggests he is.
England's breakout stars sat down with presenter John Denzel and discussed why the web had the Manchester United star down as 5ft 7ins.
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But Mainoo, 19, insisted he is 6ft to team-mate Cole Palmer on the FA’s Lions’ Den show at their Euros base in Blankenhain, Eastern Germany.
Host Josh Denzel kicked things off by cheekily asking: "I found something quite interesting Kobbie.
"When I searched the internet it says your height is 5ft7ins, but I know you've been telling people you're 6ft."
To which Palmer asked: "How tall are you?"
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Mainoo told the Chelsea star: “I’m six foot, bro. Why you laughing? I swear down.”
Palmer then put his pal to the test by getting the tape measure out - and Mainoo came out at 184cm, with shoes on, which does indeed equate to 6ft.
Let’s hope the teenager walks just as tall when representing his country this summer, after facing criticism following England's 1-0 warm up defeat to Iceland.
Meanwhile, Palmer admitted he did not expect his season to end with him making the Euros squad when he left Manchester City for Chelsea in a £45million deal last summer.
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The 21-year-old said: “When I went to Chelsea, this was the last thing I thought about. So to be here, it just happened so fast.”
Palmer added that he received his first call-up to the senior England team after Chelsea drew 4-4 with Man City in November last year.
Watch adidas' Jude Bellingham advert that leaves England fans with 'goosebumps' and features cameo from Laura Woods
The Premier League Young Player of the Year scored a stoppage-time penalty to deny his former club all three points in a thriller at Stamford Bridge.
Palmer went onto score plenty of goals after, with his total season tally hitting 22 Premier League goals in his debut campaign.
He also hilariously admitted that he has been watching Love Island during his down-time in Germany.
Meanwhile Palmer's fellow Manchester-born pal Mainoo explained the moment he received his first call-up in March this year.
The teenager said: “Steve Holland met me in the reception of my U21s call-up, and he was like you are going to train with us for the whole week."
Jack Wilshere's England XI vs Serbia
SunSport columnist Jack Wilshere wants Engand to start with just one holding midfielder - Declan Rice.
That means playing Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham in attacking midfield roles, with Cole Palmer and Bukayo Saka on the wings, either side of Harry Kane up top.
Wilshere said: “In the group stage against teams we should beat, we can afford to be more expansive, let’s attack.
“It wasn’t that long ago we were saying we didn’t have the Spanish-type of players who can dominate the ball, now we have.
“So let’s try to utilise that, dominate the ball and go for goals.”
And the ex-England midfielder wants Trent Alexander-Arnold to get the nod at right-back, with Kyle Walker centre-back.
He added: “If you play Trent at right-back and he drifts in midfield, he can switch the play at speed. Walker’s pace will get you out of trouble.”
Read more from Jack Wilshere during Euro 2024.
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