Morgan Rogers will start in place of Jude Bellingham in England’s World Cup qualifier against Serbia on Thursday.
A day after Thomas Tuchel hinted the midfielders couldn’t play together in the current system, Rogers has been given the nod for the Real Madrid star in the No.10 round at Wembley.
Bellingham, who was called up to the England national team for the first time since Tuchel questioned elements of his behavior last June, will be on the bench.
Bellingham was left out of last month’s international matches against Wales and Latvia as he built his fitness following shoulder surgery, and Rogers has impressed in his absence.
Nico O’Reilly also starts at left-back in his England debut.
England lineup to face Serbia: Pickford. James, Stones, Konsa, O’Reilly; Anderson, Rice; Saka, Rogers, Rashford; Ken.
Serbia: rajkovic; Mimović, Milinković, Pavlović, Terzic; Godelli, Lukic; Zivkovic, Ilić, Kostic; Vlahovic.
WednesdayTuchel said Bellingham and Rogers were in direct competition for minutes in his team.
“They are respectful, they are friends with each other, and they are currently fighting for the same position,” he said. “Can they play together? Yes, but with a different structure than maybe, and right now is not the time to change our structure.”
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Rogers has scored just one goal in 11 Premier League appearances for Aston Villa, but scored for England in a 3-0 friendly win over Wales in October. Bellingham has scored twice in La Liga for Madrid this season since returning from injury.
