England head coach Thomas Tuchel has announced his latest England squad – with some eye-catching omissions from his inflated 35-man party.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luke Shaw are two notable omissions – with their place in Tuchel’s England squad for this summer’s World Cup looking unlikely.
Shaw has returned to form at Manchester United this season but is yet to be called up by Tuchel since his appointed as Three Lions head coach – with the likes of Newcastle United’s Lewis Hall ahead of him at left back.
Alexander-Arnold started both of Real Madrid’s Champions League last-16 legs against Manchester City and Tuchel admitted it was a tough decision to leave out the right back.
‘I know what Trent can give us and I decided still to stick to the players with us,’ he said before adding that the likes of Tino Livramento, Djed Spence and Jarell Quansah offer ‘a slightly different profile’ to Alexander-Arnold.
Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott and Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins have also been left out by Tuchel – with the former having been selected in his squad for their November wins over Serbia and Albania, although he failed to play a minute. Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White is another omission.
England players recalled
Tuchel’s extended squad has seen him recall several England players for the first time since he succeeded Gareth Southgate. Manchester United duo Harry Maguire and Kobbie are in, as well as AC Milan defender Fikayo Tomori, Leeds striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Hall and Tottenham striker Dominic Solanke.
Everton midfielder James Garner, who is having a fine season, and Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele are the two uncapped players called up by Tuchel.
Chelsea’s Reece James and Trevoh Chalobah, who were named in the last squad, miss out through injury.
England’s fixtures this month see them take on Uruguay on March 27 and Japan on March 31 at Wembley Stadium.
Thomas Tuchel: Last opportunity for England hopefuls to impress
‘It’s our the last camp [before the World Cup]. The last opportunity to impress and the last opportunity for players to compete for their ticket,’ Tuchel said.
Only 24 of Tuchel’s squad will join up for the first friendly against Uruguay, before 11 others arrive in camp ahead of the Japan game as the manager looks to balance his needs against a punishing domestic schedule.
The 11 players are: Dean Henderson, Dan Burn, Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa, Nico O’Reilly, Elliot Anderson, Declan Rice, Morgan Rogers, Anthony Gordon, Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka.
‘These guys have played 3,500 minutes, some 4,000 minutes. More important than the pure number of minutes is some of these guys have played more minutes than the whole of last season,’ Tuchel continued.
‘All of these players have contributed in September, October and November. They have credit with me. To give them a break mentally and physically, we will benefit from it.’
England’s 35-man squad for Uruguay and Japan friendlies
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), James Trafford (Manchester City), Aaron Ramsdale (Newcastle United), Jason Steele (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Defenders: Dan Burn (Newcastle United), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Lewis Hall (Newcastle United), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Tino Livramento (Newcastle United), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Djed Spence (Tottenham Hotspur), John Stones (Manchester City), Fikayo Tomori (AC Milan)
Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), James Garner (Everton), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa), Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace)
Forwards: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds United), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Noni Madueke (Arsenal), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona, loan from Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Dominic Solanke (Tottenham Hotspur)
