England have the 'best player in the world' ahead of Australia friendly clash at Wembley
England boss Gareth Southgate is currently preparing for Australia friendly clash
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Australia star Jackson Irvine thinks England have the 'best player in the world' in Jude Bellingham ahead of Friday night's friendly clash at Wembley.
Bellingham is expected to play a big role in the clash, having dazzled for Real Madrid so far.
The 20-year-old opted to turn down Liverpool and Manchester City in order to move to Spain from Borussia Dortmund back in the summer.
And Bellingham has been remarkable ever since, scoring 10 goals from as many games for his new club.
England star Jude Bellingham has been dubbed the 'best player in the world' ahead of Australia clash
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The midfielder, who was playing for Birmingham just four years ago, has also clocked up three assists.
And he's earned big praise from Australia star Irvine - who thinks nobody comes close on current form.
"He was like 15 and 10, 11 months or something like that when I first played against him," he said.
"I thought, 'This doesn't make sense'.
"It doesn't compute in your brain that a player can play like that, at that age.
"His growth and development, the whole world's watched him and he seems to have taken it all in his stride.
"He's now doing it on the biggest stage at the biggest club in the world.
"There's probably not a hotter player in the world. There's nothing left to say about him.
"Everyone can see the result of what he's got, what he's brought and the way he carries himself.
"He's arguably the best player in the world at the moment."
England are favourites to beat Australia, especially due to playing on home soil.
The Socceroos will, however, be hopeful of repeating their remarkable win over the Three Lions all the way back in 2003.
England were comprehensively beaten 3-1, with David Beckham left enraged by their performance against their rivals.
And Irvine has admitted the class of 2023 are eager to emulate that achievement by putting Gareth Southgate's side to the sword.
"It's a memorable, memorable result in Australian football history," added the 30-year-old.
"Every time we play together now, it's an opportunity to make a statement and create special moments and special memories.
"It's why you play international football.
"It's what you dream about as a kid, to play on the big stage and create those kinds of memories.
"Every game presents that opportunity."
Meanwhile, Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has visited the Australia camp prior to the match against England.
The 58-year-old previously managed the national side for four years between 2013 and 2017.
And Postecoglou has tried to inspire Australia players by urging them to make the most of such a grand occasion.
"(It's) the impact you can have for future generations," he said.
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"You play at a stadium like that, make an impact – it's not just for you.
"There's going to be a little boy or a little girl who are going to look at that and say 'one day that's going to be me.'"
Reflecting on his own experiences, he added: "It wasn't that long ago I was here [as Socceroos coach].
"Now I'm in the Premier League and everybody loves me, but trust me, I haven't changed one bit.
"I'm the same person but because I was Australian, because you're Australian, sometimes you've got to work that little bit harder.
"There's nothing wrong with that."