Thomas Tuchel has made his feelings clear on how his England team will take shape for next summer. No longer will the nation’s big names be shoehorned into one side, with status having overridden suitability under past regimes.
Speaking ahead of facing Serbia on Thursday night, Tuchel questioned whether Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden could all play in the same team.
There’s an argument that that trio are England’s most gifted, but with both Bellingham and Foden favouring a central role, one – or both – may miss out. Both Bellingham and Foden have been recalled this month after missing recent internationals, a period in which other would-be contenders to be England’s creative catalyst have impressed.
With competition fiercer than ever for a role, we’ve compared England’s options for the number 10 position.
Jude Bellingham
- Minutes played: 662
- Goals: 3
- Assists: 1
- 165 minutes per goal or assist
- 44 minutes per key pass
- Successful dribbles per game: 1.63
The thought of an England side without Jude Bellingham would have been scoffed at not so long ago. Bellingham’s meteoric rise from the Championship to Champions League winner has put him firmly at the forefront of England’s ambitions.
Shoulder surgery in the summer has impacted his start to the season, but a winning goal in El Clásico re-emphasised his standing as a big-game player. At Euro 2024, he was not always at peak level, but delivered in moments with vital goals against Serbia and Slovakia. Bellingham brings presence, physicality, and goal threat.
Jude Bellingham with England. 🏴 pic.twitter.com/llZEuXtIu1
— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) November 11, 2025
Phil Foden
- Minutes played: 1088
- Goals: 4
- Assists: 3
- 155 minutes per goal or assist
- 28.6 minute per key pass
- Successful dribbles per game: 1.2
Foden has been recalled this month for the first time since March. The Manchester City midfielder has been rewarded for an upturn in form, following a challenging 2024/25 campaign, in which the 25-year-old dipped drastically from his PFA Player of the Year heights a season earlier.
Foden’s ability in tight areas of the pitch and flexibility appeal, though Tuchel has said he is reluctant to shoehorn him into the side. Much of Foden’s career with England has been spent in an unfavored wide role, with mixed results. He’s scored just four times in 46 appearances for the Three Lions. His last goal came in September 2023, a run of 18 caps without finding the net.
Morgan Rogers
- Minutes played: 1300
- Goals: 1
- Assists: 3
- 325 minutes per goal or assist
- 86.6 minutes per key pass
- Successful dribbles per game: 1.42
In the absence of Bellingham and Foden, Morgan Rogers has fulfilled England duties as Tuchel’s advanced midfielder. The shirt should arguably be the 23-year-old’s to lose, given recent results and his own impressive performances.
Rogers has recovered from a tough start to the season for Aston Villa as a collective, though his impact is not easily assessed by numbers. A powerful ball-carrier, he adds real threat in transition and an ability to shield and protect possession. At the highest level, with England having struggled to retain the ball in the biggest games, that could be a real weapon.
📊 Most assists in the Premier League in 2025:
◉ 9 – Morgan Rogers
◉ 8 – Eberechi Eze
◉ 8 – Anthony Elanga
◉ 7 – Mo Salah
◉ 7 – Martin Odegaard pic.twitter.com/7E3w0vHWAe— WhoScored (@WhoScored) October 27, 2025
Cole Palmer
- Minutes played: 235
- Goals: 2
- Assists: 0
- 117.5 minutes per goal or assist
- 102 minutes per key pass
- Successful dribbles per game: 1.14
Cole Palmer’s start to the season has been decimated by a recurring groin issue. The 23-year-old has featured for just 235 minutes for Chelsea in all competitions, with the hope that he can return after November’s break.
Palmer is yet to be given a consistent run in an England shirt, though has shown he can deliver when called upon. An excellent goal off the bench in the Euro 2024 final showcased his temperament when the heat is on.
Eberechi Eze
- Minutes played: 1057
- Goals: 2
- Assists: 2
- 264 minutes per goal or assist
- 117 minutes per key pass
- Successful dribbles per game: 1.36
Eberechi Eze joined Arsenal from Crystal Palace in the summer, a move designed to take the midfielder to the next level. Having flourished as the main main in South London, he has now linked up with an Arsenal outfit chasing the biggest prizes.
Mikel Arteta is yet to find the very best role for the 27-year-old, despite some bright moments. The sooner he settles at the Emirates, the better his chances of making the plane next summer.
Morgan Gibbs-White
- Minutes played: 1287
- Goals: 3
- Assists: 3
- 214 minutes per goal or assist
- 85.8 minutes per key pass
- Successful dribbles per game: 0.62
Morgan Gibbs-White was left out of the England squad this month, though Tuchel checked in on the Nottingham Forest midfielder to explain that decision. A challenging start to the campaign at the City Ground, which has included three permanent managers, has not been conducive to finding his best form.
That said, his six goal involvements trail only Foden among this list, while only the Manchester City midfielder and Bellingham average a key pass more often per 90.
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