Tuchel explains Jobe Bellingham England call-up

The 19-year-old Fulham midfielder has received his first call-up to the senior England national team ahead of the UEFA Nations League match against Croatia on Thursday.

King has played in England's junior teams since the age of 15, captained the under-16 squad in an international fixture against Italy in August 2022 and his upcoming debutant appearance for the senior team marks a major milestone in his international career.

After being subbed off in a recent Premier League fixture against Newcastle, King affirmed that it was "more precautionary" on account of a groin issue and confirmed his fitness conditions are now up to standard during an interview with Sky Sports.

He also asserted: "I think I'm capable of playing lots of different positions which is probably part of the reason why I'm here.", and expressed his sincere gratitude towards head coach Thomas Tuchel for the opportunity.

BBC Sports reports confirmed that the midfielder, as suspected, has been largely valued for his "versatile" nature with Thomas Tuchel commenting: "He is just a fantastic character. He gives us a bit of flexibility.", as well as referring to him as an "exciting" and "versatile" player.