Thomas Tuchel says Ben White must "clear the air" with his England team-mates as he defended calling up the Arsenal defender after he ended his self-imposed international exile.
White left the 2022 World Cup in Qatar due to personal reasons after not featuring in the group stage matches. Following a disagreement with the then assistant manager, Steve Holland, he declined a call up by Gareth Southgate for the international break in March 2024.
However, he made it clear to Tuchel he would be available for selection again and has been brought into this camp as a replacement for the injured Jarell Quansah, with England facing Uruguay in a friendly at Wembley on Friday night before hosting Japan on Tuesday.
Tuchel says White will now have to talk with the team-mates who were part of that World Cup squad and in this camp.
"First of all, I think everyone deserves a second chance," said Tuchel. "Second, I don't know exactly what happened. I was also not 100 per cent interested because I wanted to open a new page and a new book and a new opportunity.
"Once I asked Ben if he would be ready to play for me and for England, he straightaway, without hesitation, said he would love to come back and was desperate to come back.
Amended England squad
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson*, Jordan Pickford, James Trafford, Aaron Ramsdale, Jason Steele.
Defenders: Dan Burn*, Marc Guehi*, Lewis Hall, Ezri Konsa*, Tino Livramento, Harry Maguire, Nico O'Reilly*, Ben White, Djed Spence, John Stones, Fikayo Tomori.
Midfielders: Elliot Anderson*, Jude Bellingham, James Garner, Jordan Henderson, Kobbie Mainoo, Declan Rice*, Morgan Rogers*, Adam Wharton.
Forwards: Jarrod Bowen, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Harvey Barnes, Phil Foden, Anthony Gordon*, Harry Kane*, Noni Madueke, Cole Palmer, Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka*, Dominic Solanke.
*11 players will not join up with the England squad until after Friday's game with Uruguay
"[When he got the call after Quansah's injury] The reaction came within seconds. It was very euphoric, very positive and very emotional about it. That showed me he really means it.
"The way he behaves and the way he has trained here in camp has been exceptional, very, very good. It shows his quality.
"I think it's necessary he clears the air with his team-mates and I think he will with players who come back who were in the World Cup together with him.
"Then we go from there. Let's see how it goes and let's see how he feels, if he feels as comfortable and as confident as he thought he would. Until now, this is the case.
"He has my support, hopefully he gets the support from the spectators and we take it from there."
Why was White picked over Alexander-Arnold?
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Image: Trent Alexander-Arnold has been overlooked by Thomas Tuchel
Tuchel was also quizzed on why he continues to overlook Trent Alexander-Arnold, with White preferred as a right-back replacement for Quansah than the Real Madrid defender.
His answer finished with a blunt instruction to Alexander-Arnold: "He just has to accept it."
Tuchel said: "It's just a choice. A sportive choice. Maybe a hard choice. And maybe to a degree unfair," said Tuchel.
"The choice was for White because I saw him play in the [Carabao Cup] final, in the Champions League match before and he was back to his old self. It was a chance to meet him in person.
"I know what Trent can give us so the choice was for Ben and Tino Livramento, to stick with the guys who had a good camp with us in September, November, December. Djed Spence as well.
"I know it creates noise when you leave a player like Trent out. We had a call, I tried to explain the situation. He just has to accept it."
Follow England vs Uruguay on Sky Sports' digital platforms on Friday; kick-off 7.45pm