Jose Mourinho reckons former Manchester United defender Chris Smalling ought to be handed a shock England recall for the impending World Cup finals in Qatar. Mourinho and Smalling are currently working together with AS Roma after their respective spells at Old Trafford.
Smalling, 32, signed for the Italian side in 2020 after initially spending time with the club on loan. He has made 110 appearances for Roma in all competitions following his decade-long stay with United.
England manager Gareth Southgate will name his provisional World Cup squad in the coming days and among his biggest concerns are in the defensive areas. Right-backs Kyle Walker and Reece James are currently injured - while United captain Harry Maguire has also been on the treatment table.
Set to return to training, though, there is no doubt Maguire will book his seat on the plane. But should the centre-back who he replaced also earn international recognition for the first time since 2017?
Mourinho certainly believes so and has delivered a strong message to Southgate about his player. Smalling has 31 caps to his name having been given his senior debut by Fabio Capello shortly after the World Cup in 2010.
Roma were 1-0 winners against Sampdoria on Monday night, while Mourinho was asked about the former United man during his post-match press conference. He said: "He was taught to play in a two-man defence in Manchester, but now he's got the perfect acumen to play in a three-man backline.
"If I were the coach of a national team, I would do anything to have someone like him at my disposal. I don't think it's a lack of respect to Gareth Southgate when I say that I feel sorry for a player who's playing at such a high level, like Smalling, who won't get the opportunity he deserves."
United signed Smalling for £7.2million from Fulham in 2010 and he went on to play over 300 matches for the club - winning two Premier League titles and three other major trophies there over the course of a decade.