England’s World Cup squad numbers are leaked – dropping big hints over Thomas Tuchel’s starting XI in a number of key positions

Jude Bellingham beat Morgan Rogers to win England’s coveted World Cup number 10 jersey.

In a development that may give insight into Thomas Tuchel’s preferred starting 11, the Real Madrid midfielder was given his squad number before his Aston Villa counterpart.

Rogers, who started the crucial autumn qualifiers that determined England’s place in the final, took the jersey after impressing with his role behind Harry Kane.

But Tuchel knows Bellingham will expect to start and squad figures suggest he will be involved.

The Three Lions are in a group in the United States this summer alongside Croatia, Ghana and Panama, once again seeking their first World Cup on foreign soil.

England’s 26-man squad had their first training session in Florida on Tuesday

Jude Bellingham took the number 10 jersey ahead of Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze

Jordan Pickford has unsurprisingly been given the number 1 jersey as the Everton goalkeeper prepares to play in his fifth major competition.

On the other hand, Nico O’Reilly wears the number 3 jersey and will start at left back. Marcus Rashford is in 11th place, ahead of Anthony Gordon. These two will compete for a place on the left of England’s attack. Ezri Konsa is number 2, but Reece James is likely to start at right-back and will wear his preferred jersey number 24.

Marc Guehi has been a regular for England over the last few years and will take the number 6 jersey, while Bukayo Saka will also wear the number 7 jersey, as expected given he is likely to start on the right wing.

Meanwhile, John Stones has barely played the last two seasons due to injury, but being given the number 5 spot suggests Tuchel could start him at centre-back alongside Guehi.

Players such as Tino Livramento, Jordan Henderson, Dan Burn, Kobbie Mainoo, Ollie Watkins, Noni Madueke, Ivan Toney, Djed Spence and Jarell Quansah are also expected to start on the bench at the start of the tournament.

This status was also reflected in the numbers they were given; the lowest number was Livramento’s number 12.

Tuchel coached England’s first session on Tuesday after arriving in West Palm Beach on Monday evening. Ollie Watkins, who will wear the number 19, has returned to the squad for the first time since being left out of the internationals in March and the Villa striker admitted the snub was a source of motivation.

‘It was a blessing in disguise,’ said Watkins, who scored 12 goals after Villa’s miss. ‘Sometimes when something is taken away from you, you realize how important it is and it makes you want to show people what you can do.

‘This was a case of proving to myself what I could do. My manager always trusted me. It’s nice to be able to repay him with my performances and goals and show that I deserve to be here.’