Thomas Tuchel says his rocky relationship with Jude Bellingham is on the mend after revealing he called his brother Jobe in to the England squad after some cajoling from the Real Madrid star.

Tuchel and Bellingham Snr have not always seen eye to eye during the German's time as England boss.

But Tuchel said today he hopes those days are behind him after he called 21-year-old Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jobe into this squad for next week's Nations League games against Croatia and Spain.

'It was a bit of an up and down [relationship] of course but we are in a good place,' said Tuchel.

'I love to be his coach. He's a top player, a very influential player and I think it goes both ways. If Jude was not feeling comfortable he would not perform on that level.

'In the moment you see he's happy to come into camp, he's happy with the role he has, he's fully invested and now to have the chance to have both of them is just the next step.

'I hope we have finished with the down. You never know as a coach!'

With injury to Bournemouth's Alex Scott and Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly suspended for Thursday's Croatia game at Wembley, Tuchel sprung a surprise by elevating Jobe Bellingham from the Under 21s to the senior squad.

'Yeah Jude and I have spoken about his brother because I was aware it was always his dream to play with Jobe for England,' explained Tuchel.

'Jude was always saying: "Watch him, watch him he's good, he can make it". 'I would say: "Yeah we are watching him".

'I think he actually watched training very early in my reign. He came over and watched his brother train. We chatted and said it would be nice if one day he was with him.

'He was very kind and very polite and I'm glad to have him in camp. Everyone will compare them and he has to live with this.

'They look similar, even in their movements, but they are very different players. Jobe is more defensive. I think they are also different characters, at least that's what I heard.

'He couldn't stop smiling when I called to tell him the news. He has the same beautiful smile like Jude so it's nice to have him.'

Tuchel's squad for what he insists are two important games was once again full of messages and insights into this thinking.

There was no room for Cole Palmer and Kobbie Mainoo after both players withdrew from the October campo with injuries. There was also no call up once again for Manchester City's Phil Foden.

Asked about Palmer, fit and ready now and in decent form at Chelsea, Tuchel said: 'It's not personal and we will never assume that he is not desperate to come and play.

'But the competition is on. It's about the ones who walk the walk and come to camp.

'Someone more intelligent once said to me: 'You cannot not communicate. You cannot not send a message.'

'So yeah. A nomination is always a message, yes.'

Tuchel revealed that he almost picked Foden – who hasn't played for England since March – after an upturn in his form but had second thoughts when he saw him relegated back to the bench at the Etihad Stadium.

'He is close and he will always be close,' said Tuchel.

'There were glimpses of the Phil Foden that we would love to see. He had these two matches with four or five goal involvements and assists and being so clinical.

'I got excited and thought: "That's it, that's, he found his mojo, he is getting back there". Then he dropped again and played again from the bench.

'I'm in love with him as a player. What is not to love?

'If you see the boy train it's just the highest, highest quality.

'But we're talking about numbers in an England shirt which are not in proportion to his talent and to his potential.

'If we can align this and become a regular City starter and be decisive, I think he has to be always an option.

'It was very close and it's also close for Eberechi Eze to keep his place with us. He's not starting for Arsenal.

'But the advantage was maybe that Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze come again into camp. The advantage was that they have been in camp last time.'

Tuchel's apology to Mainoo - in front of the squad

Thomas Tuchel has told how he apologised in front of the whole England squad to Kobbie Mainoo for not giving him a single minute during the summer's World Cup in America.

Mainoo cut a lost and frustrated figure during England's campaign after a succession of players were picked ahead of him in his central midfield position.

The Manchester United star has not made Tuchel's squad for the forthcoming Nations League games with Croatia and Spain after withdrawing from the last camp with injury.

Tuchel revealed: 'He was hugely disappointed from the World Cup, and deservedly so.

'I said it in front of the team, in front of the staff.

'I said: "Sorry that I didn't pick you, you did nothing wrong, that is on me".

'He was disappointed and I think it cost him a bit of confidence.

'He was excellent in training and in the way he presented himself through the tournament.

'So he was never a problem, the way he carried himself.

'Then he pulled out of last camp. I was desperate to give him the minutes. Desperate to include him in this new start, in the Nations League.

'But he then missed an excellent camp and also entered a difficult, difficult spell for himself.

'He was injured then Man United fell off a cliff a little bit performance-wise. So this is why he suffers from that.'