Thomas Tuchel has brought Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden back into the England squad – but warned them they face a battle for just one starting berth at the World Cup. Both Bellingham and Foden missed out on England selection in September due to injury and a dip in form. The Three Lions manager then kept faith with his existing squad in October, leaving the Real Madrid midfielder frustrated.
However, with England’s World Cup qualification now secured, the pair have been recalled for the final qualifying fixtures against Serbia at Wembley next Thursday and Albania on November 16. Bellingham has rediscovered his best form for the Spanish giants, netting three times in his past four outings. Meanwhile, Foden demonstrated his quality with a brace in the Champions League earlier this week.
Tuchel revealed he views both players operating in a central position – and said of Foden: “I don’t see him as a winger at the moment.” Bellingham featured as a second striker at Anfield in the Champions League in midweek.
Tuchel’s trusted lieutenant Morgan Rogers has occupied the No. 10 role in recent matches and continues to be a key member of the squad. Therefore, when skipper Harry Kane is available, it leaves Bellingham, Foden and Rogers competing for the central creative position.
Speaking at a press conference at Wembley on Friday, the German coach expressed his delight at the return of Bellingham and Foden, stating: “We are delighted that they are back. I think the contribution of both of them to their clubs lately was immense. They play regularly, of course, and they play a big part and a big role in the success of Real and City’s matches lately. They score regularly decisive goals. So we’re delighted that they are in shape and form and back with us.
“Jude comes back as a No.10. I think that’s his best position. And I think one of his key strengths is to score from this position, and he has the ability to arrive and to score goals that a No.9 would score. So he scores tap-ins. He scores one touch tap-ins inside the six-yard box which is very unusual.”
“It seems easy, but to arrive in these positions in the right timing, in the right moment, is a key strength and is one of his key qualities and outstanding qualities. So we will try to find space there for him as a No. 10 to arrive in these No.9 positions and score for us.
“Phil, where he played now lately against Dortmund to us where I see him the strongest. Close to the opponent’s box, maybe a mix between the nine and the 10 close to the opponent’s box. For me, Phil scores and assists more from the 18-yard box, where he scored against Dortmund. He’s on the half turn and he assists, he’s in the pockets.
“So I think the main thing with Phil is that he gets a role in the central part of the pitch. I don’t see him as a winger at the moment. Maybe not anymore. He should have a central role. I think that brings out his strengths the most.
“We talked about this already with him. So he will contribute, as a nine-and-a half, 10-and-a-half ish and position, very fluid, but in the middle of the pitch to be to be close to the box, be able to assist and and to score like he did against Dortmund.”
Ollie Watkins has been omitted from the latest squad alongside Morgan Gibbs-White, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Myles Lewis-Skelly and James Trafford. This means Kane remains the sole recognised striker, though Tuchel pointed out that Anthony Gordon and Marcus Rashford are capable of filling that position, as is Foden.
When questioned about whether he’d thought about giving the England skipper a rest, the ex-Bayern Munich manager responded: “Yeah, but not in November. I’m getting the fact that I know that he has a break in winter. He’s in the nice position to play in Germany.
“And I think that suits him very well to have this little break given where he is in his career. And, that’s why, he has no excuses for the, for the next, for the next two matches. No concerns over here.”
