Thomas Tuchel could be set to recall Marcus Rashford to the England squad. (Image: Getty.)
names his first squad on Friday, having whittled down his public 55-man long list to just 26 players who will take on Albania and Latvia in qualifiers. With the likes of , , and likely unavailable, the German may turn his hand to a few unexpected options.
The former and boss is no stranger to big decisions, but every move at this stage will be made with an eye on winning next year’s final in the United States.
The likes of , Liam Delap and Morgan Rogers are all putting their hands up for selection with strong recent form, while key members of squads could pay the price. duo and Rico Lewis alongside the likes of and appear likely to miss out.
Here, Express Sport writers have named their selections for who should feature in Friday’s squad announcement.
Sam Smith
Tuchel will pick his first England squad around a number of inconvenient injuries. There will be no , John Stones or Noni Madueke. Angel Gomes, who was the big winner of the brief Lee Carsley era, is being managed through a calf problem at Lille.
March’s squad will feature most of the tried and tested and, unfortunately for Gareth Southgate’s detractors, the core will consist of those who featured prominently under Tuchel’s predecessor. The experience of , , and will be particularly crucial.
That is not to suggest that there will not be new faces. Myles Lewis-Skelly and Elliot Anderson deserve a promotion to the seniors, while Liam Delap is a more Kane-moulded striker than fellow back-up Ollie Watkins. There .
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson, Nick Pope
Defenders: Kyle Walker, Rico Lewis, , Myles Lewis-Skelly, Tino Livramento, Marc Guehi, Harry Maguire, Jarrad Branthwaite, Ben White
Midfielders: Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Conor Gallagher, Phil Foden, Morgan Rogers, Curtis Jones, Adam Wharton, Morgan Gibbs-White, Elliot Anderson
Forwards: , Anthony Gordon, , Liam Delap, Ollie Watkins
Ben White could make a long-awaited return to the England setup. (Image: Getty)
Fraser Watson
The wait for England fans is almost over. But as Thomas Tuchel prepares to name his first England squad for the World Cup qualifiers with Albania and Latvia this week, the German boss has had to deal with disruption this week.
Nick Pope’s injury woes this season mean he should miss out, with Dean Henderson and James Trafford set to be the back-up to Jordan Pickford. The form of Djed Spence merits a first senior call-up, while injuries to John Stones and mean Kyle Walker and Harry Maguire can’t be cast aside just yet.
In midfield, Kobbie Mainoo being unavailable should mean a chance for Morgan Rogers, but the lack of game time for Angel Gomes is likely to cost him his place. In attack, despite appearing revitalised Marcus Rashford, is yet to score for and still has work to do to justify selection over the likes of Jarrod Bowen and Liam Delap.
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson, James Trafford
Defenders: Kyle Walker, Djed Spence, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Tino Livramento, Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa, Harry Maguire, Jarrad Branthwaite, Jarrel Quansah
Midfielders: Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Conor Gallagher, Curtis Jones, Morgan Gibbs-White, Anthony Gordon, Morgan Rogers, Morgan Gibbs-White
Forwards: , Ollie Watkins, Phil Foden, , Jarrod Bowen, Liam Delap
Charlie Malam
It’d be exciting for Thomas Tuchel to use his first squad to look towards the future. James Trafford, Tino Livramento and Morgan Rogers stay from Lee Carsley’s final selection – they could all be starters soon enough.
With now injured, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Djed Spence see their performances rewarded with call-ups, while the potential of Adam Wharton and the versatile Archie Gray is recognised too. Liam Delap could be the heir to ‘s No.9 shirt and gets in over . Marcus Rashford, perhaps harshly, replaces Jarrod Bowen.
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson, James Trafford
Defenders: Djed Spence, Tino Livramento, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa, Harry Maguire, Jarrad Branthwaite, Levi Colwill
Midfielders: Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Conor Gallagher, Curtis Jones, Morgan Gibbs-White, Archie Gray, Adam Wharton
Forwards: Phil Foden, , Anthony Gordon, Morgan Rogers, Marcus Rashford, , Ollie Watkins, Liam Delap
Marcus Rashford’s form at Aston Villa may prompt an international recall. (Image: Getty)
Joe Krishnan
Thomas Tuchel’s first squad is going to include a few surprises for sure. But what we know from his time at and Bayern Munich is that he loves the 3-4-3. He also adored James and Chilwell as wing-backs, and now they’re fit again, there’s no reason not to use them.
teenage pair Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri have been superb and look like elite talents. Easier fixtures against Albania and Latvia provide an ideal opportunity to examine their potential. Delap and Rogers deserve a shot based on current form.
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson, James Trafford
Defenders: Reece James, Rico Lewis, Marc Guehi, Harry Maguire, Tino Livramento, Ezri Konsa, Jarrad Branthwaite, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ben Chilwell
Midfielders: Conor Gallagher, Morgan Gibbs-White, Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, , Phil Foden, Morgan Rogers
Forwards: , Anthony Gordon, Ollie Watkins, Jarrod Bowen, , Ethan Nwaneri, Liam Delap
Amos Murphy
And then it was Thomas Tuchel. The latest manager drafted in to try and end England’s *check notes* 58 years of hurt. Good luck, Thomas…
For his first squad, expect him to go strong and include all of the available big hitters. ‘s injury will likely keep him out (so say hello again to Kyle Walker), otherwise, it’s a squad littered with talent across the board.
But it’s also likely the ex- chief will use this qualification campaign as a chance to bed in some of the Three Lions’ best young talents. Liam Delap should be one of them, given the striker has been in fine form for this season. The heir to ‘s throne, perhaps?
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson, James Trafford
Defenders: Djed Spence, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Tino Livramento, Kyle Walker, Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa, Harry Maguire, Jarrad Branthwaite
Midfielders: Conor Gallagher, Declan Rice, Curtis Jones, Jude Bellingham, Morgan Gibbs-White, Phil Foden
Forwards: , Anthony Gordon, Ollie Watkins, Morgan Rogers, Jarrod Bowen, Liam Delap, Marcus Rashford,
Many consider Liam Delap a strong option to make his England debut under Thomas Tuchel. (Image: Getty)
Jack McEachen
If we are to assume that Thomas Tuchel opts for a three-at-the-back system that he utilised so successfully at , which Gareth Southgate also favoured with England, then attacking full-backs such as Tino Livramento, Djed Spence and Ben Chilwell may be favoured over the likes of Myles Lewis-Skelly and Tyrick Mitchell.
The wonderkid, along with Ethan Nwaneri, may benefit long-term by linking up with the Under-21s for the first time instead of minimal minutes in these qualifiers.
The likes of Morgan Gibbs-White, , Jarrod Bowen and Curtis Jones can perhaps consider themselves unlucky
But this is a perfect time to look at the likes of Archie Gray, Spence, Elliott Anderson and Callum Hudson-Odoi, with enigmatic sparks such as James Maddison, Eberechi Eze and Morgan Rogers available as squad options.
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson, James Trafford
Defenders: Kyle Walker, Tino Livramento, Marc Guehi, Jarrad Branthwaite, Levi Colwill, Harry Maguire, Archie Gray, Djed Spence, Ben Chilwell
Midfielders: Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Elliott Anderson, Conor Gallagher, James Maddison, Eberechi Eze
Forwards: , Phil Foden, , Morgan Rogers, Marcus Rashford, Ollie Watkins, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Anthony Gordon
Alex Turk
For the first time in almost a decade, an England manager is set to name his first squad. Naturally, that comes with plenty of intrigue.
Thomas Tuchel has just as talented a pool of players at his disposal as Lee Carsley did last year, albeit with some notable absentees like and Lewis Hall.
To mark a new era at the start of the road to the 2026 World Cup, why not inject some fresh blood into the senior squad?
Djed Spence, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Elliot Anderson, Liam Delap and a returning Callum Hudson-Odoi deserve selection and would fuel excitement for, let’s say, routine fixtures against Albania and Latvia.
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson, James Trafford
Defenders: Ezri Konsa, Jarrad Branthwaite, Marc Guehi, Harry Maguire, Levi Colwill, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Tino Livramento, Djed Spence
Midfielders: Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, Curtis Jones, Conor Gallagher, Morgan Gibbs-White, Jude Bellingham, Morgan Rogers
Forwards: Anthony Gordon, Jarrod Bowen, , Phil Foden, Callum Hudson-Odoi, , Ollie Watkins, Liam Delap