JUDE BELLINGHAM must play for England at the 2026 World Cup.
That’s the view of Bellingham’s Real Madrid team-mate Thibaut Courtois, who says he cannot “imagine” a Three Lions team Stateside without the midfielder.
Bellingham was left out of Thomas Tuchel’s squad for this month’s internationals as he regains fitness following a shoulder operation.
But Courtois believes the 22-year-old star will return in November and also be with England at next summer’s finals.
When asked if the Real keeper expects that pal Bellingham will join him at the tournament in America, he said: “Yes, of course. I don’t think we can imagine England without Jude. He should be in the England squad, definitely.”
Bellingham has made five appearances for Real since he went under the knife following the Club World Cup in the summer.
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But he has only started one of those club matches – the 5-2 Madrid derby loss to Atletico.
Courtois, who closed in on booking his own World Cup spot by helping Belgium beat Wales 4-2 on Monday night and move top of Group J, added: “I don’t think it’s a problem.
“Jude is coming back from an injury, a surgery and he has to get his fitness in.
“He has to play. He hasn’t had so many minutes so for England and Real Madrid it is better that he is training and getting that extra physical work.
“Now we have a couple of tough games and hopefully he will help because he is an amazing player. He is one of our best players.
“I don’t know if Tuchel has called him or not. But I’m sure that even in November he will be back in the England squad. You want a player like Jude in the squad.”
Xabi Alonso’s Spanish giants face Getafe in LaLiga on Sunday before Real face a crunch double-header.
Bellingham and co host Juventus in the Champions League before El Clasico showdown at the Bernabeu with rivals Barcelona on October 26.
Real also travel to Liverpool in Europe’s premiere competition on November 4.
Courtois said: “He has had a long injury of four months so you cannot force them to go too fast.
“If you do then you can get muscle injuries and have a few weeks out and then if it happens again you can have another few weeks out. You need to have optimum fitness and then it will be OK.”
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