England need a new midfield, says manager Southgate

Assistant coach Steve Holland admits England have not addressed issue

Concern for Bellingham as midfielder misses training with muscle problem

England manager Gareth Southgate has admitted that his team are struggling in midfield and that they have not yet found a way to replace the injured Kalvin Phillips. Speaking after England's 1-1 draw with Germany in the Nations League, Southgate said: "We're still looking for that balance in midfield. We've got some good players in there, but we need to find a way to get them playing together effectively."

Assistant coach Steve Holland echoed Southgate's concerns, saying: "We've not addressed the issue yet. We've got some good players in midfield, but we need to find a way to get them playing together as a unit.

The lack of a settled midfield is a major concern for England, especially with the World Cup just over a year away. Southgate will be hoping that Phillips can recover from his injury in time to play in the tournament, but if he is not fit, England will need to find a way to replace him. There are a number of potential candidates, including Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice and Jordan Henderson, but none of them have yet been able to fully convince Southgate.

Bellingham, in particular, is a player that Southgate is keen to see develop. The 19-year-old has been in impressive form for Borussia Dortmund this season, but he missed training on Tuesday with a muscle problem. Southgate will be hoping that the injury is not serious, as Bellingham is one of England's most promising young players.