Morgan Rogers may have moved ahead of Jude Bellingham in England’s No.10 race, even if the shirt number points the other way. The squad list submitted to FIFA gives Bellingham the No.10 shirt, while Rogers is listed as 17. Alan Shearer has also said Rogers has maybe just edged it and expects him to start.

Why the numbers favour Rogers right now

Rogers has the stronger attacking season on paper. He scored 14 goals across all competitions for Aston Villa and added 12 assists in 55 games, which is a proper output for a player being discussed as England’s central creator. His 6.84 Premier League rating and 7.05 Europa League rating back up the idea that he has been productive in both domestic and European football.

Bellingham still has a case, and a strong one. He posted 6 La Liga goals in 28 appearances and 4 La Liga assists, with a 7.27 rating for Real Madrid. But the injury problems Shearer referred to matter here, because England are not picking a reputation award. They are picking a role for a specific tournament, and Rogers’ recent numbers are hard to ignore.

Why the debate is not settled by the shirt number

The squad list gives Bellingham the 10, so this is not being treated like a confirmed lineup. That is why the public reading of the numbers and the pundit reading of the role do not match neatly. Shearer’s line was blunt enough: “At the minute, Rogers has maybe just edged it. I mean Bellingham's had one or two injury problems and Rogers has been able to go in there and do very well. So, I'd think it'll be him that will start.”

That leaves England with a selection call that should be judged on form rather than status. Rogers has the better attacking season, Bellingham has the bigger name and the No.10 shirt, and Thomas Tuchel still has to decide which version matters more. England’s first World Cup match is against Croatia on June 17, so this will not sit around for long.

FAQ

Is Morgan Rogers now ahead of Jude Bellingham for England’s No.10 role?

The evidence points both ways, but Alan Shearer said Rogers has maybe just edged it and expects him to start. The leaked squad numbers give Bellingham the No.10 shirt, while Rogers is listed as 17. England’s first World Cup match is against Croatia on June 17.

Why do England squad numbers matter for the No.10 debate?

They matter because the squad list submitted to FIFA gives Jude Bellingham the No.10 shirt. Morgan Rogers is 17 in the same list, but Alan Shearer still said Rogers has maybe just edged Bellingham for the starting role.

What has Morgan Rogers done to push for England’s No.10 role?

Rogers scored 14 goals and added 12 assists across all competitions for Aston Villa. He also posted a 6.84 Premier League rating and a 7.05 Europa League rating, which supports the case that he has had the stronger attacking season.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 5 outlets. How we work →