According to reports, Jude Bellingham’s participation in England’s friendly matches in March is now in doubt, as Real Madrid internally fear his hamstring injury is more severe than initially expected.
The 22-year-old Real Madrid midfielder suffered a hamstring strain in the game against Rayo Vallecano earlier this month, and was initially expected to be sidelined for around four weeks. However, he is now set to miss a longer period, with a new potential recovery timeline of six to eight weeks.
If these fears materialise, Bellingham will have barely any time to prove his match fitness ahead of England’s home friendlies against Uruguay and Japan at Wembley at the end of March.
Asked about Bellingham’s injury at Thursday’s UEFA Nations League draw, England head coach Thomas Tuchel said: “The club are more cautious about how many weeks he will need to recover.”
“Jude is pushing hard with his rehabilitation, and as we know him, he is determined and highly professional. He will do everything he can to join us in March. Of course, we are in regular contact with him, as is standard procedure, and we wish him all the best. We will offer all the help and support we can for him. It’s a bit of a race against time.”
When asked if he believed Bellingham would recover in time, Tuchel added: “I’m personally optimistic, but I’m not certain.”
It would be a major blow for Tuchel if Bellingham, who has won 46 caps for England, fails to prove his fitness.
The former Borussia Dortmund midfielder’s position in the squad has been the subject of speculation in recent months, with Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers often featuring in the number 10 role. Nevertheless, Bellingham remains a key player for England as they prepare for this summer’s World Cup, with Tuchel set to name his squad in May.
