England call up 17-year-old Borussia Dortmund star Jude Bellingham to replace James Ward-Prowse

Jude Bellingham has been rewarded for his excellent start to life at Borussia Dortmund with his first England senior call-up.

The midfielder will replace James Ward-Prowse, who has been withdrawn with injury. Bellingham, 17, midfielder was originally included in Under-21 squad but will now link up with the seniors for the first time.  

The Dortmund star could become England third-youngest player ever if he features in the friendly against the Republic of Ireland on Thursday. 

Jude Bellingham has been called up to Gareth Southgate's England squad for the first time

Jude Bellingham has been called up to Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the first time

Bellingham was due to join up with the Under 21 squad but will now meet with the senior side

Bellingham was due to join up with the Under 21 squad but will now meet with the senior side

The teenager will replace James Ward-Prowse who has withdrawn with a tight hamstring

The teenager will replace James Ward-Prowse who has withdrawn with a tight hamstring

Bellingham will be 17 years and 136 days old when the Three Lions take on Stephen Kenny’s side at Wembley.

Only Theo Walcott and Wayne Rooney were younger when they made their senior England debuts. 

Walcott became England’s youngest ever player at 17 years old and 75 days when he played against Hungary in 2006. Rooney had previously held the record after making his debut in a friendly against Austria at the age of  17 years and 111 days.

Rooney became the youngest starter in 2003 at the age of 17 years and 160 days when he played against Turkey in 2003. 

Bellingham has excelled during his first season in Germany since moving in the summer

 Bellingham has excelled during his first season in Germany since moving in the summer 

The 17-year-old became Borussia Dortmund's youngest ever scorer after netting on his debut

The 17-year-old became Borussia Dortmund’s youngest ever scorer after netting on his debut

The midfielder became Birmingham's youngest ever player at the age of 16 before completing a £25million move to Dortmund in the summer

The midfielder became Birmingham’s youngest ever player at the age of 16 before completing a £25million move to Dortmund in the summer

Sportsmail revealed in July that Bellingham was set to be fast-tracked by England with Southgate acknowledging the youngster as a special talent.  

Bellingham only made his Birmingham debut last season, becoming the club’s youngest ever player at 16 years and 63 days old, but the Blues retired the number 22 shirt in honour of what he had achieved at St Andrew’s following his switch to Germany. 

He completed a £25million move to Dortmund in the summer and became the club’s youngest ever scorer after netting on his debut against Duisburg.

Bellingham has made 11 appearance for the Bundesliga side and has also made two assists in what has been an impressive start to his career in Germany. 

While most of the players arrived at St George’s Park on Monday, a number were scheduled to report in on Tuesday morning with Ben Chilwell, Eric Dier, Harry Kane, Kyle Walker, Joe Gomez, Jordan Henderson and Raheem Sterling given an extra day at home.

Theo Walcott is England's youngest ever player

Wayne Rooney is the second youngest ever player

Bellingham could become England’s third youngest player ever if he plays against Ireland

ENGLAND’S YOUNGEST EVER PLAYERS 

Theo Walcott – 17 years and 75 days

Wayne Rooney – 17 years and 111 days

James Prinsep – 17 years and 252 days

Thurston Rostron – 17 years and 311 days

Raheem Sterling – 17 years and 342 days 

Meanwhile, England Under-21 boss Aidy Boothroyd covered the loss of Bellingham by calling up Everton pair Tom Davies and Ben Godfrey – although Norwich full-back Max Aarons withdrew for the games against Andorra and Albania. 

Marcus Rashford is scheduled to report for duty on Thursday to allow for further assessment on an injury sustained playing for Manchester United last Saturday.

Liverpool right back Trent Alexander-Arnold has also pulled out through after picking up a calf injury against Manchester City on Sunday.

After the friendly with Ireland, the England will Belgium and Iceland in the Nations League. However, the Three Lions could be forced to play their ‘home’ match against Iceland in Albania.

As Sportsmail revealed on Monday, the FA have been informed that the Eastern European country is a serious contender to host the Nations League group match, scheduled for a week on Wednesday. 

The FA, who are desperate to keep the match at Wembley, held urgent talks with Government officials on Monday to ascertain whether the game can be played in London despite new Covid restrictions. They are hoping Whitehall backs down in the next 24 hours.

A ban was imposed on non-UK citizens arriving from Denmark at the weekend with concerns over a new coronavirus strain that has spread from mink to humans. 

Under the rules, the Iceland team would be denied entry into the UK because they play Denmark in Copenhagen on Sunday, meaning the Nations League match could not go ahead as planned at Wembley.

Gareth Southgate will also be without Trent Alexander-Arnold after he pulled out with injury

Gareth Southgate will also be without Trent Alexander-Arnold after he pulled out with injury

UEFA are planning for the game between the two Scandinavian nations to go ahead as normal in the Danish capital.

The FA are seeking clarification from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to discover whether the Government’s elite sport protocols mean the match is exempt from the regulations.

If the Iceland squad are not allowed into the UK, the FA will have to re-arrange the game at a neutral venue. The onus is on the FA to source a venue and Albania are keen to stage the fixture. Albania has experience of being a neutral venue after hosting Azerbaijan’s 0-0 draw with Cyprus last month. The FA are also looking at Germany as an option.

source: dailymail.co.uk