Jude Bellingham starting for England will ‘depend on’ one key thing as Thomas Tuchel faces tough decisions ahead of World Cup

Who stands to gain most from England’s March friendlies?

Uruguay await The Three Lions on Friday night at Wembley, before a tricky test against Japan on Tuesday.

The time is now for those looking to secure their spot on the plane, with Owen Hargreaves, a veteran of two World Cups with England, sensing that it’s the more fringe options that stand to gain the most.

“Friendlies are not that important,” Hargreaves told TNT Sports.

“The most important thing is tournament football. Obviously, being fit for the squad is important, Thomas seeing players, but I’m sure he’ll have a clear picture in his mind.

“And maybe it’s an opportunity for players that aren’t in the squad to play their way into the starting XI.

“But I think Thomas is pretty clear on his squad and definitely his starting XI. I’m not sure there are going to be many spaces up for grabs.

“Friendlies are great for players that are on the outside looking in, to get an opportunity to come and get into the squad and be a part of the team.”

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Video credit: TNT Sports

‘I’d pick Jude’

Huge intrigue surrounds the status of Jude Bellingham in the England squad.

He is one of the side’s bona fide superstars, playing for arguably the most high-pressured club in the world, on the biggest of stages – and regularly sparkling.

But Tuchel has not seemed entirely convinced, with injury also playing a role in Bellingham’s bit-part contribution to the German’s reign so far.

The 22-year-old missed the early part of the season recovering from shoulder surgery, and then was kept out recently with a thigh injury, a seven-week absence that he admitted made him “very sad for a long time”.

With Elliot Anderson and Declan Rice seemingly inked in to two of the three first XI midfield slots, Morgan Rogers is the man in possession of the other, having impressed in the signature 5-0 away win over Serbia that counts as the high-point of the Tuchel era so far.

Hargreaves was asked whether he would select Bellingham in his first-choice England XI at the World Cup, and was clear on there being one key issue to resolve.

“It depends on fitness,” the ex-Manchester United midfielder said. “I think Jude has shown in big moments that he’s one of the best players in the world. I’d pick Jude.

“But we’re so fortunate for players we have in those positions, Morgan Rogers has done brilliantly, Phil Foden, obviously Cole Palmer’s amazing, [Bukayo] Saka – there are so many options in there.

“I think Jude has shown he’s one of those players for big moments, so I think he’ll play, but obviously fitness is the most important thing.”