England interim manager Lee Carsley has experimented with playing Jude Bellingham as a striker in training this week as he considers unleashing a wealth of attacking talent on Greece on Thursday.
Days after casting doubt on the viability of picking Bellingham, Cole Palmer and Phil Foden in the same XI, it emerges Carsley — who confirmed John Stones would captain England in Harry Kane’s absence — has put the triumvirate in the same team in training leading up to tonight’s game at Wembley.
Among the formations explored was one with Real Madrid midfielder Bellingham as a deep-lying striker.
England’s first-choice No 9 Kane is injured, so Bellingham could play further forward. Carsley has also experimented with Palmer and Foden in central attacking roles.
Speaking yesterday, Carsley hinted Manchester City star Foden, who was mostly used as a wide player by former England boss Gareth Southgate, is most effective through the middle.
Lee Carsley has been experimenting with playing Jude Bellingham as a deep-lying forward
Bellingham is yet to play under the interim England boss after missing last month's fixtures through injury
Carsley is believed to be evaluating his options with Harry Kane set to miss Thursday's clash through injury
‘Phil’s an unbelievable player,’ said Carsley. ‘We’re very lucky to have someone of his talent and mentality, and we need to make sure we put him in positions where he can really affect the opposition.
'Sometimes in wider positions he can do it, but we’ll have to change the way we play to get the best out of him. He’ll be central a lot, wider when we’re out of possession. Phil’s most effective centrally.’
The possibility of Bellingham, Palmer and Foden starting in the same team will excite fans who have been desperate for England to adopt a more attacking style.
If Bellingham is used as a deep-lying forward, Ollie Watkins or Dominic Solanke could come off the bench to play as more conventional strikers later in the game. Carsley added: ‘Along with a few of the players who can play at No 9, we’ve got plenty of options in that position. Harry’s been the outstanding player for so long for us now, but I feel like we’ve definitely got a Plan B.’
Trent Alexander-Arnold will hope to build on his excellent displays against Ireland and Finland at right back, while Rico Lewis is an option on the left.
Should Bellingham start up front, Ollie Watkins(pictured) and Dominic Solanke could offer a more conventional option off the bench
Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Anthony Gordon are expected to be selected, and Stones is set to start alongside Chelsea’s Levi Colwill at centre back.
On being made captain, Stones said: ‘It’s everything I dreamed of as a kid. It’s a special moment and I cannot thank Lee enough.
‘It was a great conversation but I didn’t know what to say. I was a bit speechless.’