Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Simon Collings

Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rodgers in fight to be England No10, says Thomas Tuchel

Thomas Tuchel says Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers are in a fight to be England’s No10.

Rogers has started the last three England games in that role in the absence of Bellingham, who was injured for of September camp and then left out of the October camp.

Bellingham is now back in the squad and Tuchel has warned there will both to play together in the same team.

“Rather than finding a position for the best players to just have them on the field, it is maybe better to put everyone in their best position and have a competition,” said Tuchel.

“At the moment the competition is between the two of them. They are friends, so it can also be a friendly competition.

Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers in England training this week (The FA via Getty Images)

“They don’t have to be enemies and 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 then maybe and at the moment it is not the moment to change our structure.”

Bellingham is joined back in the England squad by Phil Foden, who has also been recalled by Tuchel.

Foden is back in the fold for the first time since March and Tuchel says there is a “good atmosphere” in camp.

“I expect what they show, be straight away part of the group,” said Tuchel.

“Why should it be awkward for them? We were driving the levels and we were driving the thing without them.

“We would do it missing any other player. We are obliged to drive our own campaign. We are obliged to drive our own standards and to build what we can build.

“So now they are back and it is their responsibility to contribute to all this, and this is what they are doing. It is normal for them, it is easy for them because the group is strong.

“The standards are clear and you can fit in seamlessly. There has been a good atmosphere in the last two days and everyone is happy to be in camp.

“It is competitive, the mood is light and everyone is happy to be in camp. The attitude and energy on the training pitch is where we want it to be.”

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.