Gary Lineker left waiting for England honour as presenter questions the FA - 'I haven't got one yet'
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Gary Lineker has revealed he is still waiting to be given his England legacy cap after 18-year-old Kobbie Mainoo was awarded his.
Mainoo played just 20 minutes on his senior international debut against Brazil on Saturday but has already been recognised.
England introduced the tradition of legacy numbers in 2019 to mark the 1000th match played by the Three Lions.
Debutants from September 2021 onwards have been given caps with their legacy number on to recognise their first appearance for their country.
Gary Lineker says he is still waiting to be given his England legacy cap
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Hundreds of past England players have therefore had to wait to receive their caps and Lineker is one of them.
Manchester United youngster Mainoo was handed his by Gareth Southgate on Sunday, a day after he came off the bench in the loss to Brazil.
Lineker was at Wembley for the game as past players gathered to remember former England boss Terry Venables, who died last November.
Alan Shearer, David Seaman and Tony Adams were among a host of players who were given their commemorative cap on Saturday to mark their presence in Venables' Euro 96 squad.
However, Lineker, who retired before that tournament, is still without his. He said on The Rest is Football podcast: "The three of us all had a special treat on Saturday night.
"We were all at Wembley for the England-Brazil game in the royal box and when I say treat, I'm talking about everything around the game. Not necessarily the game itself.
"There was a special event to celebrate the life of Terry Venables and the Euro 96 squad he coached and our very own Alan Shearer even picked up his legacy England cap.
"Tell us what that is Alan because I haven't got one yet. I didn't even know it was a thing."
It has been an amazing rise for Mainoo in recent months, having made just 15 Premier League appearances so far.
Southgate confirmed he is in contention to start against Belgium this evening.
He said: "Kobbie has a chance for [Tuesday]. He seems very calm. Definitely you can see he is taking everything in.
"Talking to him tactically, he seems able to take all those concepts on.
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Alan Shearer posted a picture of his legacy cap on Instagram
"There are a lot of steps being taken in a very short period of time but you saw in the brief cameo the other day some of the qualities he has.
"I think also sometimes, with the really young ones, they are not even thinking about that.
"It is all flowing and maybe then as you get a bit older you start to think about it a bit more.
"When you get even older you cannot care less about it and you go again.
Kobbie Mainoo was given his legacy cap following his England debut on Saturday
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"It is a beautiful, innocent moment when he is just in the flow. And lapping up the opportunities as they come.
"Kobbie is still developing. But I am mindful that we have to look after him and make sure his development is at the right speed but the opportunities are there as well."
Declan Rice will captain England against Belgium and is excited about Mainoo's potential.
The Arsenal star said: "The sky is the limit for him, he’s an amazing player and I am looking forward to hopefully playing many games for England with him."
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