Jobe Bellingham and Josh King have been named in England’s squad for this month’s UEFA Nations League squad, but there is no place for Cole Palmer in Thomas Tuchel’s 25-man party.
England, who are all but assured a place in the quarter-finals, host Croatia at Wembley next Thursday before travelling to World Cup champions Spain three days later.
It is the first time Bellingham has been included in the Three Lions senior squad, while the fellow uncapped King impressed during June’s World Cup warm-up camp.
However, Palmer is one the standout omission by Tuchel after he withdrew from the last England squad in September.
Explaining his reasons for picking Bellingham and King ahead of fellow attack-minded Palmer, Tuchel insisted he wanted to be loyal to last month’s squad while looking at some new faces.
‘We have enough number 10s and we stick to the guys who were in the previous camp because we were happy with the two and a half weeks we had together,’ said Tuchel.
‘We have Josh King as a new player in there, but I want to see him on both wings. He is kind of an extra player and he can play all four positions.
‘I guess everyone is desperate to play for England and Cole is no exception.
‘We are speaking now about a player that is not in camp. It counts when you are in camp and I just said last time that he misses too many opportunities to impress.’
Borussia Dortmund midfielder Bellingham’s first selection alongside older brother Jude means they could be the first pair of siblings to feature in an England line-up since Gary and Phil Neville.
What else to look out for in the England squad?
Like Palmer, Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo is also not in the squad. However, Djed Spence and Ben White are in the 25-man squad that defender Nico O’Reilly dropped out of.
Declan Rice returns after injury but Bukayo Saka is absent with a thigh injury and Tuchel decided not to bring in Noni Madueke as his Arsenal team-mate’s replacement.
There was no place for fellow World Cup squad members Dean Henderson, Dan Burn and Jordan Henderson after missing the last camp.
Alex Scott, Marcus Rashford and John Stones are ruled out of this meet up through injury, as are Tino Livramento, Reece James and Trevoh Chalobah.
Myles Lewis-Skelly will miss the Croatia match through suspension but is available for the trip to Spain.
England’s UEFA Nations League squad
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), James Trafford (Leeds United), Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace)
Defenders: Ezri Konsa (Arsenal), Marc Guehi (Man City), Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Real Madrid), Lewis Hall (Newcastle United), Jarrell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Djed Spence (Inter Milan), Ben White (Arsenal).
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Jobe Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Josh King (Fulham), James Garner (Everton), Elliot Anderson (Man City), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), Declan Rice (Arsenal).
Forwards: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds United), Anthony Gordon (Barcelona), Rio Ngumoha (Liverpool), Morgan Rogers (Chelsea).
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