JUDE’S GOT REAL EDGE

GARETH SOUTHGATE says Jude Bellingham’s Champions League experience has given him an edge with England.

But the Three Lions boss insists he won’t rush the Borussia Dortmund starlet – and even hinted he could drop back into the Under-21s.

Bellingham, 17, earned a 45-minute run-out against San Marino after impressing

Southgate with his displays for

Dortmund over two legs against Sevilla.

The England manager said: “The only disappointment for Jude is he’s not playing in front of 80,000 fans at Dortmund every week, which would be an incredible experience.

“But we saw against Sevilla another level of performance and commitment that made us think we really want to help him develop with us.

“We were talking as a group of coaches after the game and if we compare it to 50 matches ago, we weren’t able to have the same sort of creativity back then.

“And also the mentality of them all to press and regain the ball as quickly as possible when they lose it.

“Youngsters like Jude are learning good habits.”

Jordan Henderson is an injury doubt for the Euros while James Ward-prowse and Kalvin Phillips lack European experience.

So there is a window of opportunity for Bellingham to force his way in alongside Declan Rice.

Southgate said: “It might be that there’s a moment where he’s with the 21s again, but we don’t know what will happen between now and the end of the season.

“And we felt this was another opportunity for him to work with the seniors, get an understanding of how the team play, for us to learn more about him.”