Jose Mourinho has predicted that Borussia Dortmund starlet Jude Bellingham can be a "big part of England's future" ahead of the 2022 World Cup.
Gareth Southgate's dreams of lifting major silverware with England were crushed on Sunday after a penalty shootout defeat to Italy in the Euro 2020 final at Wembley.
However, the England manager could take solace in the impressive performances delivered by his youthful Three Lions players at this summer's Euros.
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Bellingham, 18, followed in the footsteps of fellow England teammate Jadon Sancho by signing for Borussia Dortmund.
The former Birmingham City star, who signed for Dortmund in 2020, impressed for the German side last season as he made 46 appearances across all competitions.
Bellingham's form for Dortmund ensured him a place in Southgate's 26-man England squad for Euro 2020.
The England international didn't start any of the Three Lions' Euro 2020 clashes, but he did come off the bench against Croatia, the Czech Republic and Ukraine.
Now, Mourinho has hailed Bellingham as an "incredible player" and believes the future of England's midfield is the Dortmund starlet alongside West Ham star Declan Rice.
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Speaking in his column for The Times, he wrote: "There is not one single player you can say won't be in the World Cup next year because of his age.
"More than 50 per cent of this team have the opportunity to play two or three Euros and two or three World Cups.
"One of them is Jude Bellingham, and he can be a big part of England's future. He is an incredible player. I think the future is Declan Rice and Bellingham in midfield.
"In this tournament, England rarely had to chase anything. Even in the knockout games, they were hardly ever behind, didn't concede goals.
"Many times in football you start a certain way and the game pushes you to find other solutions but there was never that urgency to change the structure. It was for England to be ahead and not take any risks.
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"Kalvin Phillips and Rice were always there -- or Jordan Henderson for Rice -- but Bellingham is for when you need more than that.
"If you want two positional players recovering balls and keeping it simple, that's Rice and Phillips.
"Bellingham offers more and you can develop different styles in qualification matches where the level of the opposition is completely different.
"In another 16 months, at the next World Cup, Bellingham, 18, will have had many more matches in the Bundesliga and Champions League, more training sessions with the German way of doing things at Borussia Dortmund. He will be stronger and faster and more mature.
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"There are always transitions between tournaments and, for England, Bellingham is one of these guys that has a different level."
Mason Greenwood was withdrawn from England's provisional Euro 2020 squad in June due to an underlying injury, Manchester United confirmed.
The 19-year-old United forward was making a name for himself in the club's youth academy while Mourinho was in charge at the Red Devils.
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Mourinho suggested that Greenwood could be playing for England at the next World Cup in Qatar, but he has questioned his playing time at United amid competition from Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford.
"Mason Greenwood was not in the Euros squad but could be there at the next World Cup, when he will be much more mature," he said.
"He has the talent, but it may depend on what happens at his club.
"At Manchester United they have Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Greenwood. If one has an amazing season, does that mean another is not starting so many matches?"
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Jose Mourinho, FIFA, Jude Bellingham, England, Gareth Southgate, World Cup