Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham and his Bellingham brothers will travel to England together for the first time this month as the manager opted for an attacking duo of the two for the two Nations League matches against Denmark and Germany. The 22-year-old, who has made a strong impression in the first half of his second season in Germany, was his first senior international.
These choices represent another step in the younger Bellingham’s career, following in similar footsteps as his older brother. Josh King, a 23-year-old Fulham youth, also got his first England call-up, while Liverpool’s 18-year-old winger Rio Ngumoha impressed at club level and got a spot in Tuchel’s team up. But the notable absentee was Chelsea’s forward Cole Palmer.
The attacking midfielder was injured in the previous England squad, and that is why he was forced to leave, Tuchel said, adding that he had been given the chance to make a break for a top international club but had fallen short. Palmer has also been on the sidelines in reference to the World Cup team. The England manager is utilizing the current fixture schedule to evaluate the younger players, and has a chance of qualifying for the Nations League knockout stages.
England are currently second in Group A3 with nine points from four games (3 wins, 1 loss). The Three Lions will host Croatia on Thursday before embarking on the road to Spain. If Tuchel’s team can pick up a point from the remaining games, they will qualify for the quarter-finals in March. England won the last clash with Croatia 7-0, but the clash against some of the strongest opposition in Europe will give the Magpies a new challenge. Meanwhile, the England captain Harry Kane is moving towards another historic international landmark.
