Jude Bellingham set to be used in new position for England in Nations League clash with Greece
Jude Bellingham is set to start up top for England in their Nations League showdown with Greece
PA
Jude Bellingham looks set to be used as a false nine in England's Nations League clash with Greece tonight.
The Real Madrid star will be playing under Lee Carsley for the first time after the 50-year-old replaced Gareth Southgate on an interim basis earlier this summer.
England won their first two matches of the Carsley era last month, with the Republic of Ireland and Finland both beaten.
Bellingham missed those matches after picking up an injury while playing for Real Madrid out in Spain.
Jude Bellingham is set to start up top for England in their Nations League showdown with Greece
PA
With the 21-year-old now fully fit again, however, he's expected to start against Greece tonight.
Widespread reports have said that Bellingham has actually been training as a striker behind the scenes.
And it's been suggested that the former Borussia Dortmund and Birmingham star will consequently start as a false nine for England at Wembley.
It would be a change of tradition, with Bellingham usually deployed in midfield during the course of his international career so far.
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But the position still isn't entirely new to the youngster, who was often Real Madrid's main man as they won LaLiga and the Champions League last season.
It will be intriguing to see who else starts tonight, with England also welcoming Phil Foden and Cole Palmer back into the fold.
The pair, like Bellingham, were absent from the victories over Ireland and Finland.
But Carsley may go with all three players, especially in the absence of Harry Kane.
Palmer, in particular, would be an exciting pick.
The Chelsea star was, somewhat bafflingly, only used sparingly by Southgate at Euro 2024 this summer.
Carsley has only positive things to say about the Blues forward, however, and believes he's a supreme talent.
“I can’t really talk, from a seniors point of view, about what’s gone on with Cole," he said.
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Jude Bellingham has been training as a striker ahead of England's Nations League showdown with Greece
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“But I’ve seen the impact he has had when he’s been given the opportunity.
“He had a similar role for us in the Under-21 Euros where he built into the tournament and then started in the final.
“Cole is in a brilliant position. He has really found his feet at Chelsea, he is highly-rated, he’s getting minutes, he’s showing that he can handle the intensity of playing game after game.
“So that’s been a real plus for him and we’re getting the benefit of that.
Jude Bellingham is poised to start up top for England against Greece in the absence of Harry Kane
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“Because when you talk about players who are in form, the fact that he’s getting so much exposure and his numbers in terms of goals and assists is brilliant for us.
“Ultimately, he’s still a young player, he’s still got a lot of improving to do.
“Even though he’s at an incredible limit at the moment, I still think he can get better.”