Dortmund’s Jude given all-clear to join England squad

BORUSSIA Dortmund teenager Jude Bellingham has been cleared to join up with the England squad on Monday.

The 17-year-old has been granted a sporting exemption to Germany’s Covid-19 regulations, meaning he will not be required to go into quarantine when returning to the country after the upcoming internationals.

Gareth Southgate admitted last week there were doubts over whether Bellingham would be able to take his place in the squad given the restrictions, but said he wanted to take the chance as “those rules can change quickly”. Bellingham’s club team-mate Jadon Sancho would have been in the same situation but the 20-year-old has been ruled out through injury. Germany’s strict travel regulations had led to a number of Champions League fixtures being moved to neutral venues in recent weeks, with Manchester City and Liverpool playing German opposition in Budapest this month.

England face three World Cup qualifiers in the coming days, with both

San Marino and Poland due at Wembley, either side of a trip to Albania. Bellingham made his England debut in November, appearing as a second-half sub in the 3-0 friendly win over the Republic of Ireland, becoming England’s third youngest full international in the process.

DEAN Ashton believes Coventry City boss Mark Robins needs to be more “adventurous” with his team selection to get his side to Championship safety.

The EFL on Quest pundit made the claim after the Sky Blues failed to take their chances against bottom of the league Wycombe Wanderers, the former Crewe striker pointing to the team’s lack of potency in front of goal.

Gus Hamer missed a gilt-edged chance in the opening minutes before Max Biamou was denied by Chairboys’ keeper David Stockdale and later put one wide in a first half when City should really have been comfortably in front at St Andrew’s.

“They couldn’t get the goal but that’s ten clean sheets in their last 14 home games for Coventry,” said Ashton, “but six nil nils, which is why they are in the relegation mix.”

As for his answer to City’s problems in front of goal, he added: “With both Matty Godden and Tyler Walker on the bench they might have to start being a bit more adventurous.”

Turning to relegation rivals Rotherham United, who pulled off an unlikely 2-0 win at Bristol City, Ashton was asked about the prospect of the Millers having to fit their postponed game against the Sky Blues in amid eight games in April.

“It’s going to be madness for Rotherham who could be in or out of it in the space of two weeks,” he said.