Jude Bellingham: Injured Real Madrid midfielder in ‘race against time’ for England games

Jude Bellingham is a doubt for England’s March friendlies amid fears from Real Madrid his hamstring injury is worse than first thought.

The 22-year-old Real midfielder damaged his hamstring against Rayo Vallecano earlier this month but was only expected to miss around four weeks.

It is now thought he will miss longer, with a new potential recovery timescale of six to eight weeks.

If those concerns are realised, Bellingham will not have much time to prove his fitness for England’s home friendlies against Uruguay and Japan at Wembley at the end of March.

England manager Thomas Tuchel was asked about Bellingham’s fitness at Thursday’s Nations League draw and said: “The club is a bit more defensive on the outlook regarding the weeks of his recovery.

“Jude is pushing, and as we know him, he is determined and super professional. He will try everything to be with us in March. Of course we are in contact, that is a normal thing to do, and we wish him all the best.

“Whatever we can do for him, we will help and support him. It is a little race against time.”

Asked whether he believed Bellingham would be fit, Tuchel added: “Personally, I am optimistic, but I am not sure.”

If Bellingham, who has 46 England caps, fails to prove his fitness, the news will arrive as an obvious blow to Tuchel.

The former Borussia Dortmund midfielder’s position in the squad has been the subject of conjecture in recent months, with Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers often starting in the number 10 role.

Nevertheless, Bellingham is still viewed as a key player for England heading into this summer’s World Cup, with Tuchel set to name his squad in May.