England manager Thomas Tuchel is poised to reintegrate Jude Bellingham into his squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers, marking a significant shift from his controversial decision last month.
The Real Madrid midfielder was a notable omission in October, left out for matches against Wales and Latvia despite returning to club action. At the time, Tuchel emphasized rewarding the players who secured important qualifying victories in September, framing the move as a commitment to squad continuity and established momentum.
That choice inevitably cast a spotlight on Bellingham’s absence, fueling debate around the player’s standing. However, the landscape has since changed. Bellingham has firmly re-established himself at club level, starting Madrid’s last five matches across all competitions and delivering influential performances, including a standout display in the recent victory over Barcelona.
With England having already secured their place at the World Cup finals with a perfect qualifying record, the focus now turns to fine-tuning the squad. The matches against Serbia at Wembley and Albania in Tirana represent a critical opportunity for final assessments before the tournament.
Tuchel’s initial stance appeared designed to underline a team-first ethos and the intense competition for places, particularly in the advanced midfield roles. The pool of talent includes options such as Morgan Rogers, Eberechi Eze, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Phil Foden, though Cole Palmer is currently sidelined through injury.
Bellingham’s return, expected to be confirmed when the squad is announced, suggests the manager’s point has been made. The midfielder’s regained form and fitness have become impossible to ignore, paving the way for his return to the international fold as preparations for the World Cup enter their decisive phase.