Shearer Recommends Morgan Rogers Over Bellingham for England's Number 10 Role

Alan Shearer has called on England manager Thomas Tuchel to consider Morgan Rogers for the number 10 position ahead of Jude Bellingham, emphasizing Rogers' outstanding club performance and match fitness as key factors.

In an interview with SunSport, Shearer highlighted the importance of current form over reputation when selecting the starting lineup for the World Cup. Despite Bellingham officially wearing the number 10 shirt, Shearer suggested that Rogers should be given the role behind the main striker, pointing to the stark contrast in their club seasons as a critical consideration for Tuchel.

Shearer elaborated on his preference for the Aston Villa playmaker: "At the minute, Rogers has maybe just edged it. I mean Bellingham’s had one or two injury problems and Rogers has been able to go in there and do very well."

The former England striker praised Rogers' development, supported by impressive statistics from his season. Rogers made 55 appearances across all competitions, scoring 14 goals and providing 12 assists, playing a significant part in Aston Villa's Europa League triumph.

Shearer expressed his intention to select a midfield trio including Rogers, Elliot Anderson, and Declan Rice, stating, "So, I’d think it’ll be him that will start. And we’ll have to see what happens with Bellingham. Rogers has been fantastic. He’s a really, really talented guy. And he’s earned the right to go into a World Cup and hopefully do very, very well."

By contrast, Bellingham experienced an injury-affected season at Real Madrid, featuring in 40 matches across La Liga, the Champions League, and domestic cups, with eight goals and five assists to his name.

Shearer acknowledged that excluding a high-profile player like Bellingham would be controversial but expressed confidence in Tuchel's ability to manage such decisions. He remarked, "Clearly, the XI that starts the first game is not going to be the XI that plays every game and right through the tournament. And if there’s a manager to handle players, big players being left out, then it’s this manager."

England is scheduled to complete their tactical preparations with friendlies against New Zealand on June 6 and Costa Rica on June 10. Following these matches, Tuchel will finalize his starting lineup for the World Cup Group L opener against Croatia on June 17, with subsequent games against Ghana on June 23 and Panama on June 27.