Graeme Souness has revealed he 'feels sorry' for Jude Bellingham after the England star was used as a striker in Thursday night's defeat to Greece.
The Three Lions were flat throughout the shwodown at Wembley and lost 2-1, with Benfica star Vangelis Pavlidis netting two goals in the second half.
Bellingham did manage to briefly draw England level in the 87th minute of the clash.
But it was still a difficult night for the Real Madrid star, who toiled in his new role amid the absence of Harry Kane.
England news: Graeme Souness feels sorry for Jude Bellingham after the Real Madrid star was used as a striker in the Three Lions' Nations League defeat to Greece
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Kane was forced to miss the showdown due to injury, though could return to the starting XI for Sunday night's clash with Finland
Souness, writing for the Daily Mail, has sympathised with Bellingham and says he 'feels sorry' for the 21-year-old after he was forced to adapt to his new role after just 20 minutes of working on the fresh system in training.
"I have to say I felt sorry for Bellingham," said the Liverpool icon.
"The central striking role he was playing is obviously not his position. He scores the vast majority of his goals arriving late in and around the box.
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"You only need to have looked closely at his goals for Real Madrid and England last season – and his goal on Thursday night - to know that.
"Ollie Watkins took up that role after an hour, though the system was so clearly not working that I think changes should have been made earlier."
Souness feels Ollie Watkins deserved a start.
The Aston Villa star has established himself as one of the best players in the Premier League over the past couple of years, having fired his side into the Champions League last term.
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Watkins also scored a stunning late winner as England beat the Netherlands 2-1 in their Euro 2024 semi-final showdown earlier this summer.
Souness added: "If Harry Kane isn't available, as he wasn't last night, you start with a different type of centre forward.
"In this case, Watkins, who should have scored with his second touch after arriving on the hour mark, when Cole Palmer played him in.
"Asking a talented midfield player to play as a centre forward made no sense. England should start with Watkins up front against Finland on Sunday, with Kane not fit.
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England news: Jude Bellingham struggled in his side's Nations League defeat to Greece on Thursday night
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"In fairness to Lee Carsley, he has shown the ambition that Gareth Southgate lacked as England manager.
"I hope he remains bold and plays that host of midfield players again on Sunday. They owe him a performance against Finland."
And Souness feels Jack Grealish and Cole Palmer should be used out wide after the latter was forced into a deeper role against Greece.
"I would like to see a midfield which, with Bukayo Saka out, should include Declan Rice sitting, with Bellingham and Phil Foden either side of him, and the wide areas taken up by Jack Grealish and Cole Palmer," he stated.
England news: Graeme Souness feels Ollie Watkins should have started up top against Greece instead of Jude Bellingham
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"All, except for Rice, with a license to go and make mischief.
"What they must do is work on the collective pressing when they don't have the ball. Thursday night was a setback but we know these boys are far better than that."
