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With six wins out of six, no goals conceded and World Cup qualification secured with two group games to spare, national team coach Thomas Tuchel can argue he has made the right selection choices.

Yet, in the lead-up to Thursday's Wembley encounter against Serbia, he raised questions when he said that three of the England's elite footballers - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - are unable to feature in the equivalent formation.

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

"They can but not in the structure, not for the balance that we established and not in this formation that comes also with wingers who are highly specialized in their positions. We presently employ with a six, eight, a 10 and a nine."

From certain starters to fighting for spots

The Manchester City and Real Madrid stars have been deployed on the flanks for England in the past, but the manager's choices imply that the Manchester United forward and the Gunners' star are his primary selections on the left and right flank respectively.

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

Former Three Lions boss certainly thought so.

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

In the 16 fixtures the trio have played alongside each other, England have triumphed 10 times, drawn three and suffered three losses, registering 36 scores and allowing 14 goals.

Tactical insight: Foden's flexibility provides alternatives

Tuchel has employed a four-two-three-one setup that alters structure when England attack.

Morgan Rogers has been the key creative force because of his impressive ball progression, ball-striking and skill in entering the penalty area when the striker drops deep.

Tuchel has spoken about preferring dedicated wide players. The wide attackers regularly feature on the wings and can hold the ball well, engage in one-on-one situations, and arrive in the box to score.

Behind this front four, Tuchel plays with a midfield two consisting of one defensively strict player and another with greater freedom to join the forward movement.

Potential configurations for England's stars

Foden and Bellingham would be competing with attacking alternatives for the creative hub, with Kane expected to lead up front.

Foden could operate as the number nine, which potentially could enable both Bellingham and Foden to feature instead of Kane.

There is an alternative approach all three could play in this system and Tuchel suggested it this week.

"At Manchester City, he functions as a central or attacking midfielder, so maybe during the next months we consider him as a central midfielder," he said.

Foden has been used in a more all-purpose midfield role this season.

That has enabled him to operate from deeper areas and could categorize him as the advanced playmaker, paired with a defensive anchor.

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

Regardless of if Tuchel chooses to configure the team like this at the global tournament, what bodes well is his readiness to exclude star names in the pursuit of tactical equilibrium.