England boss Thomas Tuchel is set to leave Jude Bellingham on the bench against Serbia tonight, and keep faith with Morgan Rogers in the number 10 role.
Rogers has played a part in each of Tuchel’s eight games in charge while Bellingham was recalled to the squad for the game with Serbia and Sunday’s trip to Albania.
It was believed Aston Villa midfielder Rogers was carrying a slight hamstring problem but reports suggest he has been declared fit and will be in the starting XI at Wembley.
Tuchel prefers system over names
It is another signal that Tuchel won’t simply play the big names because they have the better track record, a point he emphasised yesterday when asked if childhood friends Bellingham and Rogers could play together.
“I don’t know. I guess so but not both in the same position obviously,” said the German, who revealed he preferred to find a settled formation and then plug the best players into it.
“Rather than finding a position for the best players to have them on the field, it is maybe better to put everyone in their best position and have competition,” he added.
“At the moment the competition is between the two of them. They are friends so it is a friendly competition. They don’t have to be enemies and hate each other. They are respectful and they fight for the same position.
“Can they play together? Yes, but in a different structure and now is not the moment to change the structure.”
Blow for Bellingham
Bellingham has recently returned from a shoulder operation and has played well for Real Madrid, most notably in their Clasico win over Barcelona last month.
Bournemouth’s Alex Scott, named in an England squad for the first time, has been left out of the matchday 23, as has Marc Guehi. The Crystal Palace defender is still struggling with the foot injury he sustained on club duty last week.
