Rio Ngumoha will have to watch on from the stands when England take on Spain, with the Liverpool star set to miss out on the match altogether.
Rio Ngumoha of England arrives at Belgrove Hotel West Palm Beach ahead of international friendlies and FIFA World Cup
Rio Ngumoha has been left out of the England squad to face Spain(Image: (Photo by Leonardo Fernandez - The FA/Getty Images))
Liverpool star Rio Ngumoha will not be involved in England's clash with Spain, after Thomas Tuchel decided to keep the star out of the squad due to UEFA rules.
That's according to The Mirror, which claims that the winger was the unfortunate one to miss out on the match, with the 24-man squad having to be reduced to 23 for the UEFA Nations League matches.
It follows a first official call-up for the forward, who had featured in a pre-World Cup squad for Tuchel in the summer to help make up the numbers in the absence of other stars, who were having a break before the tournament.
In that period, Ngumoha made his debut for the England senior team, featuring in a friendly against New Zealand, capping off an ideal breakout campaign at the top level.
Having returned to domestic action with Liverpool, the youngster's performances have been good enough to warrant a first official call-up as part of the squad, with a chance to feature in Nations League clashes against the likes of Spain, Czechia, and Croatia over the next three weeks.
However, the 18-year-old has been left out of the squad to face off with the World champions first up, in a harsh call that was always likely to leave one unfortunate player out of action.
It means Ngumoha will have to watch on from the stands and wait for some potential involvement later in the international break, with another three games for him to feature in.
Considering the long-term prospects of the star, it's a decision that won't dent his chances in the long term, but perhaps shows his immediate place in the current pecking order, as the manager relies on experience and immediate output for the challenge of a team like Spain.
BURTON-UPON-TRENT, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 22: Rio Ngumoha of England looks on during a training session at St Georges Park on September 22, 2026 in Burton-upon-Trent, England. (Photo by Eddie Keogh - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
Rio Ngumoha will be aiming to make his first start for England during the international break(Image: Getty Images)
That decision does mean Trent Alexander-Arnold will be part of the 23-man squad for England's clash with Spain, as he looks to work his way back into Tuchel's thinking for the future.
The former Liverpool right-back was snubbed during the summer for a place at the World Cup, even with the Three Lions suffering from injury and selection issues in his position before and during the tournament.
With those problems persisting into the first international break, Alexander-Arnold's return to the England squad for this three-week spell means there is a chance for him to cement a place in the team moving forward.
It remains to be seen whether he will take that opportunity, with some tough clashes ahead, as the building of the squad starts towards the European Championships in two years time - while Nations League glory along the way wouldn't go amiss for the team.
With some huge decisions to be made along the way, it remains to be seen how Ngumoha and Alexander-Arnold will come out of the international break in the mind of Tuchel.