Thomas Tuchel has said Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane “cannot” all play together for England if, as intended, he keeps the same “structure” to his team.
The England head coach also revealed that Bellingham and Morgan Rogers, who are childhood friends, are in a straight fight to be England’s No 10 at the World Cup.
Bellingham is back in Tuchel’s squad after missing the October internationals, although the Real Madrid midfielder will only train fully on the eve of the qualifier against Serbia on Thursday evening.
Foden has also been recalled and it appears his best chance of featuring for England is as a “false nine” – which would suggest he will understudy Kane.
“At the moment, if we keep the structure, they cannot play,” Tuchel said when asked whether he can fit Kane, Foden and Bellingham all into his line-up.
“They can but not in the structure, not for the balance that we developed and not for structure that comes also with wingers who are like specialists in their positions. We play at the moment with a six, eight, a 10 and a nine,” he told Talksport.
