By Oliver Taylor
Football fans have questioned the decision to name Borussia Dortmund’s 17-year-old starlet Jude Bellingham as a replacement in England’s squad for the upcoming international fixtures, ahead of Leicester City duo Harvey Barnes and James Maddison.
Barnes came on as a substitute in the 76th minute during England’s friendly against Wales on October 8. However, he was left out of the matchday squad for England’s two Nations League games against Belgium and Denmark.
Maddison, who has missed time with a hip injury this season, last featured for the Three Lions as a 56th minute substitute in a 2020 UEFA European Football Championship qualifying game against Montenegro last November.
Daily Telegraph football news correspondent Matt Law tweeted: “Jude Bellingham is clearly super talented and he’s a great story. But he’s 17 and he’s completed one 90 mins for Dortmund.
“Calling him up to the England senior squad over players like Maddison and Barkley is an utter nonsense.
“Leicester City are top of the table and Harvey Barnes, who has been superb, and James Maddison can’t get into an expanded England squad even after withdrawals.”
Law further endorsed Barnes, when responding to a fan, claiming Barnes has been “much better” than Dortmund winger and regular England starter Jadon Sancho.
Bellingham was named to the squad after Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse and Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold withdrew due to injury.
Twitter user Louis Dangoor opined: “I understand James Maddison because he’s not fully fit right now.
“The fact that Harvey Barnes and Ross Barkley aren’t in the squad, when they’ve played exceptionally well this season, is a tricky one to defend.”
The Office Chair Pundit account tweeted out a gif of Jim Carrey spitting out a glass of water in response to Bellingham being named to the squad over Maddison and Aston Villa midfielder Ross Barkley.
England’s upcoming fixtures are a friendly against Ireland on Thursday, November 12, and two Nations League games against Belgium on Sunday, November 15, and Iceland on Wednesday, November 18.
