MB1980
UTC Legend
One is 27, in his prime, has lifted a world cup, showing leadership and nerve in a tournament environment and has also played against some of the best midfielders in the world in the premier league with 126 appearances.
The other is 18 and has player 15 professional football matches.
Who do you take to a major tournament as backup?
Not good enough, sorry.
Decent to good player for lower/mid table clubs but really can't envisage him playing for England in a major tournament.
Mainoo is rawer right now, but has all the ingredients to be world class with a few years... possibly within a year or months even.
Cook is a solid/average lower/mid dmc. That's his ceiling.