Bellingham vs Rogers: Ex-Man United star weighs in on England national team debate

Former Manchester United defender Phil Jones has weighed in on the debate around the England national team's No. 10 spot, amid suggestions that Bellingham's position was not nailed down.

The Real Madrid midfielder has been a regular fixture in the Three Lions set-up since making his debut in 2020. He played the No. 10 role at the European Championship.

However, with the continued prominence of Cole Palmer, Phil Foden's new positioning, and the emergence of the likes of Eberechi Eze and Morgan Rogers, Bellingham's starting berth is no longer a given. 

Convalescing from a shoulder surgery, which he had in the summer, meant he spent some time away from the national team. In that interval, Tuchel played multiple players in the position, and Morgan Rogers stood out in particular. 

This has sparked a debate within the country, and Jones believes that Rogers should get the nod over the former Borussia Dortmund man. 

“He would be my number 10 in the World Cup. I know it’s an unpopular decision, and I know he probably won’t because Jude Bellingham is at Real Madrid. Hopefully that doesn’t influence it, but I’m doubling down on it,” Jones said about Rogers, per Goal. 

“I think [Rogers] has been the player whom I’ve enjoyed watching the most over the last six months. I’ve really, really enjoyed his performance. I love the way he plays, I love his character, and I love the way he handles himself on the pitch.

“He’s powerful, he’s quick, he’s strong, he scores goals left foot, right foot. I think he’s more powerful than Bellingham. I think at the minute he’s scoring more goals than Jude Bellingham. He’s having more of an influence on the game than Jude Bellingham.

“Listen, I love Jude Bellingham. I’d give my right arm to have been the player he is, so I’m not disputing that. But I just love the way [Rogers] is playing at the minute. 

*If he carries on playing the way he’s playing and, touch wood, he doesn’t get injured, I can’t understand how he wouldn’t start for England in the World Cup. I can’t understand it.”