Jude Bellingham is a test for Thomas Tuchel – the decision for his next squad is simple

England boss Thomas Tuchel will pick his next squad later this week and will be able to call upon Jude Bellingham, the talismanic figure so central to the Three Lions’ World Cup dreams

Jude Bellingham is back, fit and must be a shoo-in for the England squad when it is named on Friday. Real Madrid star Bellingham is a national treasure, England’s best midfielder and was comfortably the most important player at last season’s Euros.

For a start, his last gasp equaliser against Slovakia at the last 16 stage will go down as one of the great England goals in any tournament and his all-round performances were key in helping Gareth Southgate ’s squad reach the final.

To suddenly forget his importance to the team after one camp – the games in September against Andorra and the thumping win in Serbia – is really short-sighted.

Other players came in and took their chance – most notably Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson and Morgan Rogers was superb in Serbia – but that only highlights England’s squad depth.

Bellingham remains the main man and getting the best out of England’s most naturally gifted and talented player will be crucial if England are to stand any chance at next year’s World Cup finals.

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And that is why it is so important for Thomas Tuchel to harness Bellingham’s talent and use his man-management skills to get through what no-one can deny choppy waters in their relationship.

England boss Tuchel publicly apologised for that very ill-judged comment about his mum finding Bellingham’s on-pitch behaviour “repulsive.”

And let’s be clear… any player would be offended by that remark because it cuts to the heart of their character, personality and even their upbringing.

Tuchel said he had reached out to Bellingham and apologised personally but what we do not know at this point is whether that bond of trust between any manager and star player has been affected.

We will probably only know after Bellingham’s first game back and that could be against Wales at Wembley next week. But it is little wonder that any family is protective of a child, particularly one which has been in the public eye since their teens.

Tuchel even spoke about his duty of care towards Myles Lewis-Skelly and wanting to pick him in September when he was out of the Arsenal team to show some faith in a player who was rushed into the squad last March.

It is easy to forget that Bellingham is still only 22 because of his performances on the pitch and also his manner and maturity beyond his years.

He comes across brilliantly. It is such a shame he does not do much media while on England duty because he is absolute star in every sense. He speaks so well, so passionately and just seems remarkably normal.

We should not forget that. He is different on the pitch. But sometimes if you take away a player’s spark and devilment on the pitch, then you take away some of his strengths.

That is what Tuchel has to harness and build into his England team. You need that determination and will to win.

Bellingham is the best England player of his generation. The notion that England could be in any way better off without him is bonkers.

You cannot indulge any player or give them special treatment. It would cause all sorts of backlash and issues within the squad. David Beckham was the biggest player in the world during his time with England. But England still found a way to make it all work.

Former England boss Steve McClaren found to his cost in 2006 that dropping Beckham was a huge error… and recalled him a year later.

Basically, it is down to any manager to manage and be a man-manager to get the best out of his best players. This is a test of Tuchel – and he has to make it work with Bellingham.

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