A STOURBRIDGE-born footballer is looking to build on his meteoric rise to stardom by helping guide England to glory in the Euro 2020 finals.

Jude Bellingham, who will only turn 18 during the latter stages of the tournament, will be hoping to form part of manager Gareth Southgate’s midfield when the national side kick off their campaign against Croatia on Sunday, June 13.

Bellingham – son of prolific former Stourbridge FC striker Mark Bellingham – has established himself in the England senior squad after a remarkable rise through the footballing ranks.

He began as an under eight player for Birmingham City, going on to make his senior debut for the Championship club aged just 16 years and 38 days – their youngest ever first team player – against Portsmouth in an EFL Cup tie on August 6, 2019.

He had already made his England under 15s debut by then, in December 2016, and went on to star as a substitute on his Under 21s debut in September 2020, coming off the substitutes’ bench to score in a 6-0 win against Kosovo.

Bellingham moved from Birmingham to top German side Borussia Dortmund last summer, going on to make a huge impression in his first Bundesliga season, which enabled him to force his way into the senior England squad.

Birmingham famously ‘retired’ his number 22 shirt in honour of his achievements at St Andrews when he left for Dortmund.

After their opening fixture against Croatia, England go on to play Scotland on Friday, June 18, before their final qualifying group match against the Czech Republic on Tuesday June 22.