Jude Bellingham
Jude Bellingham has returned to the fold
Jude Bellingham has been named in Thomas Tuchel's England squad for matches against Serbia and Albania. The Real Madrid star returns after missing the last two Three Lions camps.
Bellingham is joined in the squad by Phil Foden, who was also absent from Thomas Tuchel's last selection. The Manchester City ace has been rewarded for better form after a tough start to the season.
Midfielder Bellingham was controversially excluded from the squad for the October internationals after missing out on the previous group due to a shoulder injury. Bellingham could be in line for his first appearance under Thomas Tuchel since a substitute outing in a 3-1 friendly defeat to Senegal in June.
Tuchel opted not to select Bellingham last month as he continued to build back to full fitness. The former Chelsea and Bayern Munich coach preferred to keep faith with players who served him well in wins over Andorra and Serbia.
The 22-year-old Bellingham has been in fine form at the Bernabeu and scored three goals in his last four outings. That appears to have been enough to convince Tuchel to select who would be considered one of his strongest players.
Foden's return to the squad comes after an impressive week for Manchester City as he got on the scoresheet against Borussia Dortmund. Newcastle striker Anthony Gordon has made the cut despite being forced off early in the Champions League against Athletic Bilbao.
Tuchel has also opted to select Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton and Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope. Bournemouth star Alex Scott has earned his first senior call-up.
Myles Lewis-Skelly, Moran Gibbs-White and Ollie Watkins are among those to drop out of the squad. Despite the latter's absence, there was no call for in-form Brighton striker Danny Welbeck.
Welbeck, 34, last played for England in 2018 but has been pressing for a recall after scoring six goals in the last six games.
England sealed their appearance at next summer’s World Cup with a 5-0 win in Latvia last month to see them top Group K with six wins out of six.
England will face Serbia at Wembley on Thursday (Nov 13) before an away game in Albania on Sunday November 16, in the last competitive fixtures before the World Cup. The Three Lions will play two friendlies in March with the World Cup starting in Mexico City on June 11.
England squad
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Nick Pope (Newcastle United)
Defenders: Dan Burn (Newcastle United), Marc Guéhi (Crystal Palace), Reece James (Chelsea), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Nico O'Reilly (Manchester City), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Djed Spence (Tottenham Hotspur), John Stones (Manchester City)
Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa), Alex Scott (AFC Bournemouth), Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace)
Forwards: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona, loan from Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
There will be more to follow on this breaking news story and Mirror Sportwill bring you the very latest updates, pictures and video as soon as possible.
Please check back regularly for updateson this developing story.