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Talk around Jude Bellingham's status in the England squad has intensified in recent weeks after he was left out of Thomas Tuchel's recent squad.
The German opted against picking the Real Madrid star for the October fixtures with Wales and Latvia, as he stuck with roughly the same group that impressed in the September internationals.
The decision was a shock considering the midfielder had made a recovery from a shoulder injury and deemed himself available for selection.
With England impressing in the recent international break and securing qualification for the World Cup in North America, Bellingham's Three Lions future under the current regime has been brought into question ahead of the major tournament next summer.
Some have suggested that the side functions better without the 22-year-old and is better balanced since Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson was brought into the national team set-up.
Some also believe the squad feels more at ease without Bellingham around the camp, as the player can be known to demand plenty from his teammates due to his burning desire to always succeed.
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Since being snubbed by Tuchel, Bellingham has proved his worth for his club, delivering goal contributions in big games against Juventus and Barcelona.
Against the latter, he assisted Kylian Mbappe's opener and scored the winning goal, with Xabi Alonso's men running out 2-1 victors in El Clasico on Sunday (October 26).
Wayne Rooney on Bellingham's England status
Former England star Wayne Rooney has addressed the recent talk surrounding Bellingham's place in the Three Lions' squad with the World Cup on the horizon.
Speaking on BBC's The Wayne Rooney Show, England's second-highest ever goalscorer feels there is no doubt over Bellingham featuring for the nation next summer.
"I've heard the debate, should he be in the England squad come the World Cup? He has to be," Rooney stated.
"I don’t think there's any doubt. Harry Kane's the one they all rely on, but when you need something he's the one (Bellingham), who can go and do that as well," the ex-Three Lions striker added.
Rooney also believes Bellingham's track record of delivering for club and country counts for plenty and the player's response recently to being left out by Tuchel shows he has the right mentality.
"We saw it in the Euros and again now with Madrid. He's had big moments and in the biggest game arguably out there, El Clasico. He has an impact, he gets the assist, the goal."
"That's a mindset when you get left out, do you sit there and sulk, or do you go and react. Try and prove people wrong, and he's gone and done that," Rooney explained.
With Bellingham picking up form at club level, it will be fascinating to see if he is selected for England's November internationals against Serbia and Albania.
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