Jude Bellingham is expected to earn an England call-up when Thomas Tuchel names his final squad of the year on Friday, sources have told ESPN.
The 22-year-old was largely overlooked last month with Tuchel insisting there was “no problem” between him and Bellingham despite the midfielder returning to action for Real Madrid after shoulder surgery.
However, Tuchel will select a squad of around 25 players for the World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Albania on Friday, and sources have confirmed that Bellingham will be included after improving form.
Bellingham underwent surgery in the summer and participated in only four matches before Tuchel ruled him out in October. He also hasn’t completed 90 minutes yet.
He has since scored in three successive matches for Real Madrid before playing the entirety of Tuesday’s 1-0 loss to Liverpool.
Tuchel was keen to reward the group that has already qualified for next summer’s World Cup finals in a very effective way, as it has won all six matches so far without conceding a single goal.
They started the campaign in September without Bellingham and Tuchel keeping faith with almost the same group in October.
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However, questions over Bellingham’s position intensified after Tuchel chose not to call him up – Bellingham has not played for England since June’s defeat to Senegal.
A day after that match, Tuchel praised Bellingham’s displays of fire and hunger, but noted that there were aspects of his behavior that his mother found “disgusting”.
Tuchel later chose to apologize for these public statements he made in a radio interview.
It remains to be seen whether Phil Foden and Jack Grealish have done enough to earn call-ups while 34-year-old Danny Welbeck is in contention for a place after six goals in his last six appearances for Brighton.
