England manager Thomas Tuchel has expressed uncertainty about Jude Bellingham's fitness for the upcoming March friendlies against Uruguay and Japan. The Real Madrid midfielder suffered a hamstring injury during Madrid's 2-1 win over Rayo Vallecano on Feb. 1, initially expected to sideline him for a month.

Tuchel revealed that Real Madrid has adopted a more cautious approach regarding Bellingham's recovery timeline. The England coach noted that Bellingham is determined and professional, pushing to return for the March fixtures at Wembley. England's preparations for the FIFA World Cup continue with these friendlies, making Bellingham's availability crucial for Tuchel's tactical plans.

The injury compounds Bellingham's recent fitness challenges, having already missed time earlier this season recovering from shoulder surgery. Despite these setbacks, the 21-year-old has featured in 18 of Madrid's LaLiga matches this campaign. His absence would force Tuchel to consider alternatives like Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers for the central midfield role, though Bellingham's unique skill set and recent performances make him indispensable to England's World Cup ambitions.