Jude Bellingham facing fight to get back in England team as Tuchel addresses competition at No. 10
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LONDON (AP) — Jude Bellingham might have to wait to get back in the England team, with coach Thomas Tuchel saying Wednesday he is in no rush to change his system to accommodate the return of the Real Madrid star.
Since Bellingham last played for England — in a 3-1 loss to Senegal in a friendly in June — Morgan Rogers has been installed in the No. 10 role and starred in recent 5-0 wins over Serbia and Latvia that helped to clinch a spot in next year’s World Cup.
Bellingham is back in the squad after fully recovering from shoulder surgery and Tuchel sees him as a No. 10, placing him direct competition with Rogers.
“They are friends so this can also be a friendly competition,” Tuchel said at a news conference ahead of England’s home game against Serbia in World Cup qualifying on Thursday. “You don’t have to be enemies, you don’t have to hate each other. They are respectful, they are friends with each other, and they fight at the moment for the same position.
“Can they play together? Yes, but in a different structure and maybe it’s not the moment to change our structure.”
Working against Bellingham is the fact that he and Phil Foden, another attacking midfielder who has regained a place in the squad, haven’t taken part in a full training session so far this week, Tuchel said. That will happen later Wednesday.
Add Chelsea playmaker Cole Palmer, who is currently sidelined by a groin injury, into the mix and England has enviable options in attacking midfield.
Tuchel, however, said he won’t try to cram all of his star players into the same team, as some previous managers have done unsuccessfully.
“Not because we don’t like (them), not because they don’t individually deserve it, but we will always do what’s best for the team,” Tuchel told British radio station talkSPORT.
“We will always do what’s best for winning, we will always do what’s best for balance, and we will try to keep the clarity, even if it means that we have to take tough decisions.”
England became the first European nation to qualify for the World Cup last month, so the pressure is off Tuchel and the team heading into upcoming games against Serbia and Albania that wrap up group play.
The German coach said he isn’t thinking ahead to next year’s tournament just yet.
“So much can happen,” he said. “Nobody wants injuries to happen but injuries can happen, players can pull out, drop in form, other players can come in form, so I’m very much open for the next months.
“That’s why I don’t feel the pressure, I don’t feel the World Cup urge at the moment.”
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer