Jose Mourinho tips Tottenham teenager Dane Scarlett, 17, to be a ‘phenomenal’ star for England

Jose Mourinho tips Tottenham teenager Dane Scarlett, 17, to be ‘phenomenal’ for England in the future… but claims the striker’s chances of reaching Gareth Southgate’s squad for the Qatar 2022 World Cup are slim

  • Jose Mourinho has tipped Dane Scarlett, 17, to be England’s next young star
  • The Tottenham striker was given his senior debut by Mourinho at Spurs last term
  • Gareth Southgate’s England squad contained several young stars, like Phil Foden
  • Scarlett was in electric goalscoring form for Spurs’ youth teams last season
  • Mourinho also backed Jude Bellingham to start at the Qatar 2022 World Cup 

Jose Mourinho has backed Tottenham teenager Dane Scarlett to be ‘phenomenal’ for England in the future as he predicts which future Three Lions stars will break through next.

Gareth Southgate‘s young England side dazzled many during the European Championships using many young stars such as Bukayo Saka, Mason Mount, Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham, as they finished as tournament runners-up. 

Mourinho believes Scarlett’s chances of featuring for England at Qatar 2022 may come too early but claims Tottenham have a top young striker at the club. 

Jose Mourinho (right) has tipped Dane Scarlett (left) to be a ‘phenomenal’ player for England

The 17-year-old Tottenham teenager was handed his first-team debut by Mourinho last term

The 17-year-old Tottenham teenager was handed his first-team debut by Mourinho last term

The ex-Spurs boss told The Times: ‘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 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? 

‘With Bukayo Saka, he will be an even more fundamental player for Arsenal, but in what position? I like a left-footer on the right wing but Arsenal have other choices such as Willian and Nicolas Pépé, so only Mikel Arteta, the manager, knows how Saka is going to play. 

Gareth Southgate's England side included talents like Phil Foden (right) and Mason Mount (left)

Gareth Southgate’s England side included talents like Phil Foden (right) and Mason Mount (left)

‘I know he’s still very young, just 17, and it is probably too early for the next World Cup, but Tottenham Hotspur have a striker in Dane Scarlett, who, if everything goes well, is going to be phenomenal. For England, there is lots of promise.’

Mourinho gave young striker Scarlett his senior debut last season, and brought him off the bench in two Europa League ties, before handing the striker his Premier League debut against West Brom in February. 

The striker was in electric form for Spurs’ youth teams last season, scoring 17 goals in 16 U18 Premier League games – including ten in his first eight matches – while he also netted eight times in eight Premier League 2 and FA Youth Cup ties. 

Mourinho was sacked by Spurs in April and Nuno Espirito Santo was hired as their next boss at the end of June, with Scarlett having to wait to find out if he will be granted more first-team opportunities in north London. 

Scarlett was in electric form at youth level but the Qatar 2022 World Cup could come too early

Scarlett was in electric form at youth level but the Qatar 2022 World Cup could come too early

When discussing other changes to Southgate’s England line-up for the next World Cup, the Portuguese coach also tipped Jude Bellingham to play a starting role next winter.

The 18-year-old made just three substitute appearances during the campaign but Mourinho believes he will usurp one of Kalvin Phillips and Declan Rice in the starting line-up.  

He added: ‘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. 

Mourinho also tipped Jude Bellingham (right), 18, to start for England in Qatar next winter

Mourinho also tipped Jude Bellingham (right), 18, to start for England in Qatar next winter

‘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.

‘There are always transitions between tournaments and, for England, Bellingham is one of these guys that has a different level.’