Walker backs Bellingham to start as England weigh World Cup choices

Kyle Walker has defended Jude Bellingham’s place in Thomas Tuchel’s starting line-up amid growing calls for the Real Madrid midfielder to be dropped. He acknowledged the rise of Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers but said Bellingham’s unique aura remains indispensable.

Bellingham started in the number 10 role in England’s 3-0 win over Costa Rica in Orlando and initiated the sequence that led to Anthony Gordon’s penalty. Writing in his column for The Sun, Walker outlined the selection dilemmas Tuchel faces, between Bellingham and Rogers at number ten and between Anthony Gordon and Marcus Rashford on the left.

“For me Jude just has the edge at the moment,” he wrote, while praising Rogers’ development since his Manchester City days and loan spells. “This is just the start for Morgan Rogers.

Costa Rica, Orlando

jude bellingham, kyle walker, thomas tuchel, morgan rogers, anthony gordon, marcus rashford, real madrid, aston villa, england, world cup