Fans are confused by massive holes in Jude Bellingham's socks - but there's a very good reason

Fans have expressed confusion over the poor state of Jude Bellingham's socks in the win over Hoffenheim on Friday.

BVB won 1-0 at Signal Iduna Park courtesy of a solitary strike from skipper Marco Reus, who found the net in the 16th minute.

England international Bellingham was straight over to celebrate with his teammate and plenty picked up on his socks having a number of large holes.

There were four specifically and clearly these had not been caused by an opponent during the game - or because of the quality of the socks.

Bellingham has done it before and we also now a similar thing with his compatriot Bukayo Saka, who had two holes in each sock when he bagged against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.

However, there is a good reason for why the holes are present. Incisions on the back of socks are made in a bid to relieve tension and prevent pain in the lower leg muscles.

The combination of tight socks and bulging calf muscles run the risk of injury - and cutting holes is the common solution many players are choosing to help prevent it.

Neymar and Gareth Bale have both done it, as has Manchester City and England defender Kyle Walker.

"The socks were actually too tight so it was causing pressure on my calves," he told SPORTbible last year.

"[It was] just to release my calves - or release the tension.

"I just cut holes in them and all of a sudden i had a few alright games and I was like, 'OK, I'm keeping this now!'."