Former England midfielder Darren Anderton thinks Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers can start together at the World Cup.
The debate around how Thomas Tuchel can get the best out of the talent in his squad has been constant since his appointment, with the No10 position being a particular point of contention.
After Morgan Gibbs-White, Cole Palmer and Phil Foden were all left at home, Rogers and Bellingham are the last two men standing in the fight for a starting role in attacking midfield - and both have had auditions in pre-tournament friendlies.
For Anderton, who started every game for England at the World Cup in 1998, Rogers' attacking skillset is superior to Bellingham's, and he may be better suited to a No10 role.
“I like Rogers - I really do,” Anderton said in an exclusive interview with Standard Sport, via bet442. “I think he's a very similar player to Bellingham. I think you could argue that he might be a better No10.”
Anderton continued, saying he thinks Bellingham can support England's attack from a deeper role to allow Tuchel to start Rogers alongside him.
“I love Bellingham as a player. Sometimes I doubt his passing, and when you get that free role and you're that No. 10, I think he can do what he does from centre midfield, I think he's got the legs. And that gets Rogers in the team as well that way.”
Tuchel has previously rotated between Rogers and Bellingham: the former Borussia Dortmund man started last night's 3-0 win against Costa Rica, while Rogers started the New Zealand game four days prior, in which Bellingham came on at halftime when Tuchel changed the entire XI.
Last October, Tuchel dropped Bellingham from his England squad, starting Rogers in qualifiers against Latvia and Wales - Rogers scored in the latter in the first three minutes.
After a 3-1 defeat to Senegal a year ago, Tuchel described the 22-year-old as “repulsive” - citing his own mother's view - but insisted he used the word “unintentionally”.
Rumours are swirling around Rogers' Aston Villa future, with Premier League champions Arsenal reportedly interested.
England's first game of Group L at the World Cup is against Croatia on Wednesday, June 17 at the AT&T Stadium, Texas. Kickoff is 9pm BST.
