🔗 Share this article England's star trio are unable to operate simultaneously - does the manager have a point? Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden have been crucial figures for England over the past five years With six wins in six games, an unbreached defense and World Cup qualification confirmed with matches remaining, England manager Thomas Tuchel could suggest he has got all of his big qualifying decisions correct. However, in the preparation for Thursday's Wembley encounter against Serbia, he raised questions when he claimed that three of the nation's top talents - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - are unable to feature in the same team. "Presently, if we stick with the system, they are unable to feature. "They can but not within this system, not preserving harmony that we established and not for the structure that incorporates wingers who are essentially experts in their positions. We currently utilize with a six, eight, a 10 and a nine." From automatic picks to contested places Foden and Bellingham have been utilized out wide for England in the past, but Tuchel's selections suggest that Marcus Rashford and the Gunners' star are his preferred options on the wing positions respectively. So can Bellingham, Foden and Kane coexist in the lineup? Gareth Southgate apparently believed they could. Bellingham, Foden and Kane featured in every England's seven games at last summer's tournament in Germany, where the England team lost to Spain in the final. In the 16 games the stars have performed together, England have triumphed 10 times, shared points three times and suffered three losses, netting 36 goals and allowing 14 goals. Analysis: Foden's versatility gives Tuchel options Tuchel has employed a four-two-three-one setup that alters structure when England attack. The young midfielder has been the key creative force because of his strong ball-carrying, ball-striking and skill in entering the penalty area when the forward retreats. Tuchel has spoken about preferring specialist wingers. Saka and Gordon regularly feature on the wings and can retain the ball skillfully, take their full-back on, and appear in scoring positions. Supporting the attacking quartet, Tuchel plays with a midfield two consisting of a disciplined defensive presence and another with greater freedom to contribute to the attack. So how could Tuchel use these three players? Foden and Bellingham would be competing with Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze for the number 10 role, with Kane expected to lead up front. Foden could feature as the main forward, which potentially could permit both Bellingham and Foden to play at Kane's expense. There is a potential solution all three could coexist effectively and Tuchel alluded to it this week. "With his club, he plays almost like a box-to-box or creative role, so potentially in future we view him as a box-to-box player," he said. Foden has been deployed in a versatile central position this season. That has permitted him to contribute from midfield and could categorize him as the number eight, alongside a holding midfielder. This would then enable Bellingham to operate as the attacking midfielder and Kane as the nine. No matter whether Tuchel opts to structure the side like this at the World Cup, what appears positive is his readiness to exclude star names in the pursuit of tactical equilibrium.