Joleon Lescott defends Jude Bellingham following 'ridiculous' criticism during England camp - 'We need to protect him at all costs'

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Joleon Lescott has said Jude Bellingham needs to be protected "at all costs" following criticism over the England midfielder's reaction to being substituted and suggestions that he should not be part of the squad for the FIFA World Cup. Lescott told TNT Sports that it is "ridiculous" to suggest Bellingham should not feature next summer and that no player has had the same "level of attention".

Lescott: Bellingham faces more pressure than Rooney for England

Video credit: TNT Sports

Joleon Lescott believes "we need to protect Jude Bellingham at all costs" after the England midfielder was criticised for his reaction to being substituted against Albania.

The 22-year-old was visibly frustrated at being taken off in the latter stages of England’s final FIFA World Cup qualifier, appearing to throw his arms in the air.

Head coach Thomas Tuchel reiterated at full-time that "behaviour is key", saying he would "review" Bellingham’s reaction, while the incident led to suggestions that he was a disruptive influence on the squad.

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Asked whether he believes this is the case, Lescott told TNT Sports: "Not that I see. He’s so humble but so aware; for a man to be so young and so aware is remarkable.

"To have that level of pressure and attention that he has to live with every day, we've had players of the ilk and the personality and the attention that Jude commands, but not the pressure of being the match-winner as well.

"We should share the responsibility of winning the World Cup, but there's going to be people there that are going to be like, ‘If Jude doesn’t perform, that’s the reason we didn't win’."

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Lescott continued: "I’m yet to recognise a player that's had that level of attention on and off the pitch. Like Wayne Rooney, the pressure of him to play well and win was definitely there, but off the pitch, he could conduct himself in a way that Jude isn't allowed to.

"For me, we need to protect him at all costs."

Some of the criticism of Bellingham in the last week even extended to suggestions that he should not go to next summer’s tournament.

Ian Wright defended the midfielder, insisting on the Stick to Football podcast that some people are not "ready for a black superstar".

Lescott shared the same view and described the suggestion that Bellingham should be left out of the squad as "ridiculous".

"I agree with Wrighty’s comments," Lescott added. "I think the media, especially, and some parts of the nation want a certain criteria, demographic to be the star.

"Discussing Jude is irrelevant because he's a sensational player. He's so impressive as a human being, having worked with him. I don't think Jude needs me to glorify him in any way.

"To have this much focus on a man who has achieved so much at such an age is remarkable, and to suggest he shouldn’t be on the plane is ridiculous.

"I never remember antics of say David Beckham or Wayne Rooney being documented as, ‘They shouldn't be going to the World Cup for any reason’.

"For someone to suggest Jude shouldn't be going to the World Cup because they don't like the way he allegedly acted after being subbed is remarkable to me."

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Following Lescott’s comparison to Beckham and Rooney, fellow pundit Joe Cole noted that the two former England captains received "some horrendous treatment".

The former Chelsea and England midfielder suggested it is often the more talented players that come under fire, but admitted it is "absurd" to think Bellingham should not go to the World Cup.

Cole said: "Maybe it's personal to Jude. I don't know where the narrative has come from, but I don't think it's to do with his race, I think it's because he's the next superstar off the line.

"It's absurd to think he shouldn't be there; he's our best player, he's a great talent, I love his personality."

Cole added: "He's the next superstar, he's the first butterfly out, and he's getting all the arrows, we've always done that as a nation.

"One lesson we should take out of all of this, let's not try and kill our best players going to the tournament."

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