JOSE MOURINHO wants ‘brave’ Jack Grealish to start for England tonight.
But he predicts Bukayo Saka will get the nod from Gareth Southgate to face Denmark in the Euro 2020 semi-final.
Mourinho is a huge fan of the Aston Villa captain, who started against Czech Republic and changed the game against Germany with a big hand in both goals.
But the SunSport columnist fears Grealish will have to settle for a spot on the bench once again with the Arsenal teenager returning to the XI at Wembley.
Mourinho told talkSPORT: “Everybody knows I am very, very Grealish… but I know he’s not going to play.
“I like the guy because he never hides, he creates unbalanced situations for the opposition.
“He is very, very brave, he breaks the routines of the game.
“When a team is so solid like England, because England is a really, really solid team, especially with this dynamic of Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips in front of the back four, I believe a team always needs a player like Grealish.
“But it doesn’t look like he’s an option to start with Gareth, and Gareth is right, especially if England win the Euros – Gareth is right and we are wrong.
“I would always play Grealish, but I believe it’s not going to be Grealish, I believe it’s going to be Saka.
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“The kid did very well and I like very much a left-footed player coming from the right.
“They have Saka and they have Phil Foden, but I believe they are going to start with Saka.”
Saka is expected to join Mason Mount and Raheem Sterling in the attacking trio behind captain Harry Kane.
Rice and Phillips look set to continue their midfield partnership.
And Southgate should name Kyle Walker, John Stones, Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw in front of Golden Glove winner Jordan Pickford.
Mourinho knows Denmark will provide a far sterner test than Ukraine in the quarters – but remains confident the Three Lions will get through, then beat Italy in the final.
He added: “It’s coming home, but it’s not going to be easy. Denmark are not Ukraine.
“Before the Ukraine game I said it was no problem if Gareth decides to rest one of the lads in danger of suspension, no problem in Gareth decides to rest Harry Maguire because he comes from a big injury, I was completely convinced it was going to be an easy match.
“But this one, I keep singing, ‘It’s coming home’, but I will also say, ‘Be careful, be careful’, because Denmark is a completely different game in terms of the level of opposition.”
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