Lothar Mathaus Asks Southgate To Make Bellingham A Guaranteed Starter At World Cup

Bellingham is in a rich vein of form for club side Borussia Dortmund and has recently been made one of his side's deputy captains despite being just 19 years of age.

The former Birmingham City star became the first midfielder in UEFA Champions League history to score in three consecutive appearances while still a teenager when he found the back of the net in Dortmund's 4-1 win at Sevilla in midweek.

Bellingham started in each of England's last three Nations League games although the Three Lions failed to win any of their six group stage games in the competition, leading to relegation to the second tier.

Matthaus has been impressed by Bellingham's performances and thinks his young age should not be a hindrance to a potential starting berth in Qatar.

"He's someone English football fans need to be hugely excited about," the 61-year-old Bundesliga television pundit told FourFourTwo.

"With his mentality, he's not somebody that needs to be treated as a young player who hopes for a few minutes here and there, he's a player who should be starting every match.

"He's becoming an important part of the national team and, in my opinion, he has the potential to be one of the best midfielders England have ever produced.

"I played against some pretty good ones myself and I see those qualities in him."

England have been placed in the same group with Iran, USA and Wales at the World Cup.