Jude Bellingham faces 'race against time' to be fit for England friendlies against Uruguay and Japan in March, says Thomas Tuchel
Published 12/02/2026 at 20:59 GMT
England manager Thomas Tuchel may have to do without Jude Bellingham for the March friendlies against Uruguay and Japan. Bellingham recently damaged his hamstring playing for Real Madrid, and it is now thought he could be out for longer than originally expected. England will aim to win their first major trophy for 60 years at the World Cup in America this summer.
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England manager Thomas Tuchel has admitted Jude Bellingham faces a "race against time" to be fit for the March friendlies against Uruguay and Japan.
Bellingham damaged his hamstring playing for Real Madrid against Rayo Vallecano earlier this month, and was originally expected to be out of action for around four weeks.
However, the prognosis has since worsened for the 22-year-old, and it is now thought he could be out for six to eight weeks.
That means the midfielder could potentially miss England's two games at Wembley next month, as they continue their preparations for the World Cup in the summer.
Tuchel, who has signed a new contract that will keep him as England boss until Euro 2028, was asked about Bellingham at Thursday's Nations League draw., where the Three Lions were pitted against Spain, Croatia and Czechia in Group A3.
"The club is a bit more defensive on the outlook regarding the weeks of his recovery," Tuchel said.
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"Jude is pushing, and as we know him, he is determined and super professional. He will try everything to be with us in March.
"Of course we are in contact, that is a normal thing to do, and we wish him all the best.
"Whatever we can do for him, we will help and support him. It is a little race against time."
Asked whether he believed Bellingham would be fit, Tuchel added: "Personally, I am optimistic, but I am not sure."
Tuchel's contract extension means he will guide England through the 2026/27 Nations League, which starts in late September.
Tuchel says he is looking forward to the challenges ahead in a "very competitive" group.
"It’s a proper line up," said Tuchel. "Very difficult matches – very competitive. It’s very competitive but basically exactly what we need to prepare for the home Euros.
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"It’s a difficult draw. I think that was clear from the start because we were in Pot 3, so very strong opponents in all the other pots.
"We knew it before. We wanted a competitive group. We want to compete in League A and we want to play against the best and see where we are and that’s what we got.
"We want to compete for the semi-finals and the final, of course. Any competition we play, we dream big and we believe in ourselves but it will be difficult."
Bellingham remains a key player for England, as they aim to win their first major trophy for 60 years this summer.
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Jude Bellingham scores his dramatic overhead goal for England against Slovakia at Euro 2024
Image credit: Getty Images
The Real Madrid superstar, who used to play for Birmingham City and Borussia Dortmund, is so often the player who can provide a spark out of nothing.
That was shown in the most dramatic fashion at Euro 2024, when Bellingham equalised against Slovakia with an overhead kick in stoppage time in their last 16 clash.
England went on to reach their second successive Euros final, where they lost to Spain in Berlin.
Tuchel's England face Croatia in their World Cup opener on June 17, followed by a meeting with Ghana on June 23 and then a game against Panama on June 27.
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