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With six wins out of six, zero goals allowed and World Cup qualification assured before the final rounds, Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel can argue he has got all of his big qualifying decisions correct.

Yet, in the build-up to Thursday's home game against Serbia, he initiated discussion when he stated that three of the England's elite footballers - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - cannot play in the identical lineup.

"At the moment, if we stick with the system, they cannot play.

"It's possible but not with current tactics, not preserving harmony that we developed and not within the framework that also includes wingers who are essentially experts in their positions. We play at the moment with specific numbered positions."

From certain starters to fighting for spots

Foden and Bellingham have been utilized out wide for England in the past, but the manager's choices indicate that the Barcelona loanee and Bukayo Saka are his first choices on the wing positions respectively.

So can Bellingham, Foden and Kane operate simultaneously?

The previous England manager apparently believed they could.

Bellingham, Foden and Kane started all of England's seven matches at last summer's tournament in Germany, where the England team fell to the Spanish in the final.

In the 16 fixtures the stars have performed alongside each other, England have secured 10 victories, shared points three times and lost three, scoring 36 times and letting in 14 strikes.

Strategic view: Versatile Foden offers solutions

Tuchel has employed a four-two-three-one setup that changes shape when England attack.

The young midfielder has been the key creative force because of his excellent dribbling, shooting ability and skill in entering the penalty area when the forward retreats.

Tuchel has discussed favoring specialist wingers. Saka and Gordon consistently operate in wide areas and can retain the ball skillfully, challenge defenders, and appear in scoring positions.

Behind this front four, Tuchel plays with a midfield two consisting of one defensively strict player and a partner with attacking liberty to contribute to the attack.

What solutions exist for the trio?

Foden and Bellingham would be competing with Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze for the number 10 role, with Kane probably featuring up front.

Foden could operate as the central striker, which in theory could enable both Bellingham and Foden to feature instead of Kane.

There is a potential solution all three could play in this system and Tuchel alluded to it this week.

"For Man City, he operates similarly to a box-to-box or creative role, so maybe during the next months we view him as a central midfielder," he said.

Foden has been deployed in a versatile central position this season.

That has allowed him to take responsibility deeper and could make him an option as the number eight, alongside a holding midfielder.

This would then enable Bellingham to operate as the creative force and Kane as the striker.

No matter whether Tuchel chooses to configure the team like this at the World Cup, what seems encouraging is his willingness to leave big players out in the name of balance.