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For Bellingham to aims to earn his place once again into England’s top team, he would be wise to eliminate the nonsense. His response when he saw that he was going up after an evening of uneven play in the match against Albania was not good enough.

"I prefer not to overstate it but I stick to my words 'conduct is crucial' and respect towards the teammates who enter the game," Tuchel said. "Decisions are made and you need to comply as a player."

The midfielder must understand. There was no need for an outburst. Kane had just put the Three Lions 2-0 up in a dead rubber qualifier, the game had six minutes to go and the player, following an inconsistent display, had just been booked for fouling the Albanian striker. This was hardly a questionable change. Actually it might have been reckless for the head coach to not substitute him because there was a risk he would rule himself out of the first match of the World Cup by picking up a second caution.

Shifting Focus to Himself

But Bellingham turned the spotlight on himself. There was no disguising the young midfielder's disappointment as he realized that he was going to make way for a teammate. He flung his arms in the air and while he exchanged a handshake after making his way to the bench it was obvious that Tuchel was displeased.

This represents the hurdle facing Bellingham. He applauded his teammate for delivering the cross for Harry Kane to score his second of the night, but everything else was counterproductive. It is not as if protesting was going to alter the decision. The German has stressed repeatedly respecting team hierarchies and the necessity of acting professionally.

In the Spotlight

The midfielder, omitted from last month’s squad, has faced close inspection after returning to the team in the current camp. Practically he was being assessed and his actions haven't benefited him through his behavior to his substitution as the national team completed a flawless qualification run by overcoming a feisty challenge from Albania.

The Coach's Plan

As a result the jury is out on whether England function at their best including Bellingham. What we saw was inconclusive. There was experimentation from Tuchel in the beginning. Under him, England have gained the squad structure and clarity lately, employing a No 6, a central midfielder, a No 10 and out-and-out wingers, but there was a different feel against Albania. The young defender was given his first cap, Wharton started for the first time at this level and the use of Stones as a part-time midfielder meant there was similar look to Manchester City’s 2023 treble winners.

Inconsistent Display

Bellingham was a mixed bag. He made a chance for his teammate in the latter period but at times seemed overly eager to shine. He made many poorly executed passes. A pointless clash against an opponent early on. England's play was messy during most of the second period. An opportunity for Albania resulted from Bellingham squandered possession. His caution was shown after he lost the ball from Broja and committed a foul on the former Chelsea striker.

Squad Strength Shows

Ultimately the squad's strength made the difference. Tuchel threw on Foden, who appeared more comfortable to the position in which Bellingham operated during the first half, and Saka. Eventually Saka whipped in a set-piece for Harry Kane to open the scoring. This served as a reminder that dead-ball situations will play a key role at the World Cup.

Connection Remains

However, Bellingham was the story. The brilliance of the winger's delivery for the second goal was somewhat overlooked amid the drama of the substitution incident. After the final whistle, all eyes were on the midfielder. The coach approached behind him and guided Bellingham to acknowledge the travelling England fans. Their connection remains intact. The coach isn't ready to give up on him at this stage. But if the coach is prepared to grant him centre stage is still uncertain.