Jude Bellingham out of England’s March international games

Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham is set to miss England’s March internationals against Uruguay and Japan at Wembley, extending Thomas Tuchel’s injury headaches ahead of the 2026 World Cup cycle. Initially expected to be sidelined for four weeks with a hamstring complaint suffered earlier this month, the 22-year-old is now facing a six-to-eight-week lay-off, effectively ruling him out of the upcoming friendlies.

The setback continues an unsettling run of fitness issues for Bellingham, whose intermittent absences have opened the door for Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers to stake an increasingly credible claim to his midfield berth. While the former Borussia Dortmann prodigy remains a central figure in Tuchel’s long-term plans, his inability to string together consistent minutes has allowed Rogers to leapfrog him in the pecking order for the time being.

Bellingham’s numbers this season—six goals and four assists in 28 appearances—underscore his enduring quality, yet they pale beside Rogers’ recent output. The 23-year-old Villa playmaker has compiled 10 goals and seven assists in 36 matches, including a string of match-winning strikes that have propelled Unai Emery’s side into Premier League title contention. Rogers’ direct running, creative spark and knack for decisive moments have caught Tuchel’s eye, with the England boss known to reward form and match sharpness above reputation.

With the clock ticking toward the 2026 World Cup, the battle for midfield supremacy has intensified. Bellingham will use his prolonged rehabilitation period to regain full fitness and consistency, while Rogers aims to cement the momentum that currently tilts the balance in his favour. Should Rogers maintain his blistering club form through the spring, he could head into this summer’s internationals as England’s first-choice advanced midfielder, leaving Bellingham with ground to recover once he returns.

England, meanwhile, must navigate the Uruguay and Japan fixtures without one of their headline talents, a scenario that will test the depth of Tuchel’s revamped squad as the countdown to North America continues.