Manchester City's Kalvin Phillips has been warned that Jude Bellingham is now in pole position to start alongside Declan Rice for England at the World Cup finals in Qatar.
Phillips and Rice developed an important midfield partnership for the Three Lions as they reached the Euro 2020 final last summer. However, summer signing Phillips has only played 14 minutes this season and remains on City's treatment table with a shoulder problem.
In his absence, Bellingham was named in the starting XI by England manager Gareth Southgate against the Italians on Friday night. But while England were beaten to confirm Nations League relegation, Borussia Dortmund sensation Bellingham's display was a rare positive for Southgate and his squad heading towards the tournament.
