England star ‘may need surgery’ as major concerns raised ahead of Euro 2024 final
There are concerns about the star’s fitness.
Major concerns have been raised about one England player ahead of the Euro 2024 final as he might require surgery.
On Wednesday England secured their place in the final of Euro 2024 with a 2-1 victory against the Netherlands.
Gareth Southgate has led his side to the final of a second successive Euros, but it certainly hasn’t been plain sailing.
England have underwhelmed in most of their matches, needing a last-gasp Jude Bellingham wondergoal to avoid a round-of-16 defeat to Slovakia and penalties to get past Switzerland in the quarter-finals.
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There has been particular concerns about the performances of stars Harry Kane and Bellingham, who have failed to replicate their club form of last season.
Bellingham enjoyed a superb first season at Real Madrid, scoring 23 goals and providing 13 assists in 42 games in all competitions.
Yet La Liga’s player of the season fell off the boil in the final months of the season, with injuries and fatigue likely a contributing factor.
As reported by Diario AS, Real Madrid Head Scout Juni Calafat attended Wednesday’s semi-final in Dortmund to assess Bellingham.
Madrid reportedly feel that Bellingham is ‘at the limit’ physically, and also fear that he could require surgery on a shoulder injury that has troubled him for months.
Bellingham has missed just 19 minutes of England’s Euro 2024 campaign. (Image: Getty)
Bellingham dislocated his shoulder back in November, and since then he has been playing through considerable pain despite taking painkillers and wearing a NFL-style brace.
While the 21-year-old has not dislocated his shoulder again, he will likely require surgery if the pain does not subside.
According to Relevo, Madrid would prefer him not to undergo surgery as it would keep him out of action for at least a couple of months.
After Wednesday’s match, Calafat spoke to Bellingham’s family in the stands to discuss the player’s fitness.
Bellingham is clearly exhausted; as reported by Football Espana, last season he played 3,644 minutes for Real Madrid, while at the Euros he has missed just 19 minutes of England’s campaign, with two extra times involved in their last three games too.
