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Having secured six victories in six games, zero goals allowed and World Cup qualification confirmed with matches remaining, Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel might claim he has made the right selection choices.

Nevertheless, in the lead-up to Thursday's Wembley encounter against Serbia, he sparked a debate when he claimed that three of the country's best players - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - are unable to feature in the same team.

"Presently, if we keep the structure, they won't fit together.

"It's possible but not with current tactics, not for the balance that we developed and not within the framework that comes also with wingers who are like specialists in their positions. We currently utilize with a six, eight, a 10 and a nine."

From guaranteed positions to competitive roles

The Manchester City and Real Madrid stars have been used in wide positions for England in the past, but the manager's choices indicate that Marcus Rashford and Arsenal's winger are his first choices on the wide areas respectively.

The question remains whether Bellingham, Foden and Kane operate simultaneously?

Former Three Lions boss evidently thought it possible.

Bellingham, Foden and Kane featured in every England's seven games at last summer's tournament in Germany, where Southgate's side were defeated by Spain in the final.

In the 16 fixtures the stars have performed together, England have triumphed 10 times, drawn three and been defeated three times, registering 36 scores and conceding 14.

Tactical insight: Foden's flexibility provides alternatives

Tuchel has played a 4-2-3-1 system that alters structure when England attack.

The Aston Villa player has been the key creative force because of his strong ball-carrying, ball-striking and skill in entering the penalty area when the striker drops deep.

Tuchel has mentioned preferring dedicated wide players. Saka and Gordon consistently operate in wide areas and can maintain possession effectively, challenge defenders, and enter the area to finish.

Behind this front four, Tuchel utilizes two central midfielders consisting of a holding midfielder and a partner with attacking liberty to join the forward movement.

So how could Tuchel use these three players?

Foden and Bellingham would be competing with attacking alternatives for the creative hub, with Kane probably featuring up front.

Foden could feature as the main forward, which in theory could enable both Bellingham and Foden to feature instead of Kane.

There is one way all three could feature together and Tuchel suggested it this week.

"At Manchester City, he plays almost like a box-to-box or creative role, so potentially in future we consider him as a number eight," he said.

Foden has been utilized as a flexible midfielder this season.

That has enabled him to operate from deeper areas and could make him an option as the advanced playmaker, next to a more defensive number six.

This would then allow Bellingham to play as the number 10 and Kane as the nine.

Irrespective of whether Tuchel chooses to configure the team like this at the global tournament, what seems encouraging is his willingness to leave big players out in the name of balance.