Jude Bellingham is set to return to the England squad after being left out of Thomas Tuchel’s most recent selection, according to multiple reports.
The Real Madrid midfielder, 22, has not featured for the Three Lions since June, a month before undergoing surgery to repair a recurring shoulder injury that disrupted the start of his 2024–25 campaign.
With the next international break approaching, England are preparing for World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Albania, and Bellingham is expected to be among the headline names in Tuchel’s latest squad announcement on Friday, per The Sun.
However, his absence from last month’s squad raised eyebrows, particularly given his connection to Tuchel — who previously coached him at Borussia Dortmund. Reports have suggested that the relationship between the pair has cooled since the German tactician took charge of England earlier this year.
Tuchel sparked controversy when he remarked that Bellingham’s attitude could “sometimes come across as repulsive,” though he later walked back those comments and publicly apologised.
Bellingham Back in Form for Madrid
After recovering from surgery, Bellingham has slotted straight back into the Real Madrid midfield, reminding everyone of his class. He started in Los Blancos’ midweek Champions League defeat to Liverpool at Anfield, where he was met with boos from the home fans alongside his England teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold.
When asked post-match whether he expected a recall to the national team, Bellingham played down speculation, saying:
“It’s not my call. I think you know whose call it is. I’d love to be there, but I’ll be waiting to see.”
Tuchel’s Selection Approach
Tuchel defended his previous decision to omit high-profile names like Bellingham, Phil Foden, and Jack Grealish, insisting his last camp “was our best” and that he wanted to reward that group’s performance.
England, who have already secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup, host Serbia at Wembley on November 13 before travelling to face Albania three days later.
Bellingham’s return could offer Tuchel the chance to reunite England’s midfield core — and give the national side an early boost heading into their next phase of preparations.
