Bellingham was built for nights like this: England VS Brazil under the lights

Jude Bellingham was built for nights like this — England versus Brazil, Wembley Stadium, under the lights.

He will not flinch. In fact, it will be like water off a duck’s back. The sight of Vinicius Junior or Rodrygo in the tunnel will not have Bellingham’s heart beating any faster. He trains with them most days, after all.

Indeed, his two Real Madrid team-mates may well be the ones fearing the worst, having already witnessed first hand what Bellingham can do.

At the national stadium tonight, England’s very own Galactico will be presented with his latest opportunity to prove to everyone what they already know — that this ludicrously gifted kid from Stourbridge has the world at his feet. Ironically, there is a whiff of Brazilian flair in everything Bellingham does.

The touch. The vision. The execution. It is all done with the same sprinkle of pizzazz that has made Brazil the planet’s most iconic footballing nation.

But Bellingham is English and we should savour that fact. His international manager certainly believes we should.

‘We are obviously delighted to have him with us and the impact he has had with us and at an amazing football club,’ said Gareth Southgate on Friday.

‘We do have to remind ourselves he is 20, so there is a lot on the outside he deals with brilliantly. He is a player who is going to have an impact on any game he plays.’

Bellingham’s blistering first season at the Bernabeu has been somewhat tempered of late.

He picked up an ankle injury in February that saw him miss four weeks of action. On his return to the side, Bellingham was sent off in a 2-2 draw with Valencia.

The setbacks arrive as a reminder, if he needs one, that the direction of travel in football can quickly alter.

But, for now, those recent problems