England manager Thomas Tuchel has warned that Jude Bellingham faces a battle to secure a place in England’s starting line-up at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Bellingham returns to Tuchel’s squad for the final World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Albania this week after missing the October internationals due to a shoulder injury.
The 22-year-old had only just recovered from surgery when Tuchel decided not to include him for the matches against Wales and Latvia, a decision that allowed Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers to impress in the No.10 role.
Rogers’ strong performances have now created a selection dilemma for Tuchel as he prepares for next year’s tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
“Rather than finding a position for the best players just to have them on the field, it’s maybe better to put everyone in their best position and let competition decide,” Tuchel told reporters on Wednesday.
“At the moment, the competition is between the two of them. They are friends, so it’s a friendly competition. They don’t have to be enemies; they respect each other and fight for the same spot.
“Can they play together? Yes, but in a different structure, and now is not the moment to change the structure.”
Bellingham’s recall comes after Tuchel had earlier apologised this season for controversial comments suggesting that the midfielder’s mother found some of his on-pitch antics “repulsive.”
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