Paul Scholes makes it very clear what he thinks about Kobbie Mainoo playing for England

Former England midfielder Paul Scholes appeared more positive about the Three Lions after watching Kobbie Mainoo get his chance against Slovenia on Tuesday.

Gareth Southgate's team struggled to create big chances in their final group game, labouring to a goalless draw in Cologne after seeing a first-half goal ruled out for offside. It was still enough to top the group, though, thanks to the other game between Denmark and Serbia ending all square.

Manchester United starlet Mainoo had played just four minutes across the first two group games making a late cameo appearance against Serbia. He was given more of a run-out on Tuesday, though, coming on for Conor Gallagher at half-time, much to Scholes' delight.

Scholes had made the case for Mainoo in a TNT Sports interview before the game, saying: "If Kobbie Mainoo came in, all of a sudden you have control, you have a player who makes your team play football,"

After the Denmark game, in which Mainoo remained on the bench, Scholes simply posted a photo of the youngster to make his feelings clear. After Tuesday's game, though, he insisted England were closer to their best XI despite the result.

“Might surprise a few… very encouraged by that performance… at some point during that game the right players were on the pitch at the same time… think this team is ready to click. Night,” Scholes wrote on Instagram.

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Paul Scholes' Instagram story after England v Slovenia

Kobbie Mainoo applauding after England drew with Slovenia

Scholes has been banging the drum for Mainoo since before the tournament even started. The pundit didn't make his own England debut until he was 22 and has already been impressed by what he has seen from Mainoo at a far younger age.

"Read a few comparisons between me and this kid last week… don’t waste your time, he is 10 times the player I was at 19," Scholes wrote after Mainoo starred in the FA Cup final. "Just love the way he receives the ball, the calmness, the awareness of what’s around him and of course big goals in big games. The boy is special… and he’s a f***ing Red [two heart emojis]… laters."

England's finishing position in their group means they will play their round of 16 game on Sunday, though they have yet to learn their opponents. They could face The Netherlands, who lost to Austria on Tuesday to finish third in their group, or a team from Group E or F.

Mainoo wasn't the only substitute to impress, with Chelsea star Cole Palmer getting his first minutes of the tournament. There has been clamour for both to start, and pundit Ian Wright voiced his frustration at the level of England's performance in general.

"We look really basic, honestly, we look really basic," Wright said during ITV's coverage. "And it's sad because I think we're better than that. I think the players out there are better than that but I also think the players we've got on the bench are better than that."

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