Euro 2020: Gary Neville predicts Jack Grealish WON'T start for England against Ukraine

Gary Neville believes England will revert back to four in defence and recall Phil Foden and Mason Mount to the starting XI for their Euro 2020 quarter-final clash with Ukraine – but will still leave Jack Grealish on the bench.

The Aston Villa midfielder has started just once at the tournament but has played an inspirational role off the bench and set up Harry Kane for England’s second in the victory over Germany.

Fans are desperate for Gareth Southgate to unleash Grealish from the start and have made that known by applauding loudly every time he’s taken to the pitch, but Neville believes Mount will start ahead of him.

Mount, who started England’s first two group games, would’ve likely featured against Germany on Tuesday had he not been in isolation and allowed to train with the rest of the group, but is now back with the team and in line to face Ukraine in Rome on Saturday.

Neville did however suggest Grealish could start in midfield alongside Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips instead of Mount following his impressive cameo against the Germans. 

The ITV pundit said Foden will return to the side at the expense of Bukayo Saka despite the Arsenal man starring in the victory over the Czech Republic and looking lively against Germany.

Southgate made a dramatic switch of formation by playing three central defenders and wing backs to match up with Germany at Wembley but ex-England star Neville predicts the England boss will ditch that and go back to playing four in defence for the quarter-final.

Kyle Walker was deployed on the right-side of the back three against Germany but Neville thinks he will start in a more familiar position at right-back with Kieran Trippier, who is struggling with a muscular issue, dropping out.

That would mean Walker would form an all-Manchester defence alongside Harry Maguire, John Stones and Luke Shaw, who assisted Raheem Sterling’s goal on Tuesday.

Jordan Pickford was Neville’s obvious choice to start in goal, having not conceded a single goal in four games while the Manchester United icon insisted he was man of the match against Germany and has been England’s ‘player of the tournament so far’.

In attack, Neville said Foden will start from the left with Harry Kane and England’s top scorer at the tournament Sterling completing the front three. 

There were however some who disagreed with Neville’s predictions, with many arguing Grealish’s case to start.

One fan replied to his post on Twitter: ‘How can you tell me that you don’t want Grealish to start?’

Another said: ‘Over 250 minutes without Grealish on the pitch = 1 goal 110 minutes with him on the pitch = 3 goals (involved in all 3). Does Southgate start him or stick with the cameo role for the last 20 mins when games are stretched.’

Neville responded to one fan questioning why he had not named Grealish in his team, writing: ‘Hey!! That’s what I think Gareth will go with! He may start.. it’s a prediction!!’ 

Some fans also raised concerns over Phillips and Rice starting together in midfield, with both players on a yellow card and one booking away from being suspended for the semi-final should England get through. 

Another user wrote back to Neville: ‘Rice/Phillips not to risky? Both on a yellow, surely could play [Jordan] Henderson or [Jude] Bellingham… 

‘Surely Grealish to start now, he can’t do much more to warrant a starting place.’ 

Southgate is arguably facing his biggest selection dilemma yet, with Foden and Maguire also a yellow card away from a suspension.

Jordan Henderson, who came on against Germany, is one player Southgate may call on to start in midfield in place of Rice and Phillips.

England are heavy favourites to beat Ukraine and will face either the Czech Republic or Denmark in the semi-finals should they win on Saturday in Rome.