Harry Kane and Ollie Watkins are competing to lead the line for England _(Image: PA)_
**The situation**
Tuchel is in as England manager and ready to get to work. He officially started at the beginning of 2025, attending games in person and watching clips at home to get a good idea of who is available to him.
Recent reports suggest that he has compiled a list of 55 players who could be selected in his first squad. That number will have to be cut to around 26 for upcoming World Cup qualifiers at home to Albania and Latvia.
In terms of strikers, the pool is quite small. Harry Kane will return to the squad as captain, which Tuchel confirmed early on in his tenure. The German signed him during his stint at Bayern Munich and knows him well as a result. He’ll be the main man.
Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins hasn’t looked quite as sharp this season, but he’s clearly the best deputy to Kane at the moment. Assuming that Tuchel wants three strikers in his squad, there’s room for one more.
Dominic Solanke has the pedigree and the price tag, but injuries have halted his momentum. He’s started just once for Tottenham since the 2-1 defeat to Arsenal on January 15th.
Ivan Toney is in superb form for Al Ahli, but the level of the Saudi Pro League means that he’s unlikely to be called up. Brighton’s Danny Welbeck has impressed this season, but at 34, he isn’t a long-term option. Tammy Abraham of AC Milan and Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin have England experience but are struggling in front of goal.
That surely opens the door for Delap.
Only two English players (Cole Palmer and Ollie Watkins) have scored more Premier League goals than Delap this season _(Image: Ross Halls)_
**Delap’s form**
Delap wasn’t expected to have such a big impact at Ipswich. There’s an argument that he wasn’t even supposed to be the starting striker at the club going into the season, but his red-hot form totally changed that.
He has featured 27 times for Town in the Premier League, starting 26. The only game he missed was at home to Newcastle United back in December, which was through suspension after accumulating five yellow cards. That, in itself, is the first real concern. His aggression can clearly get the better of him.
But he currently has 10 goals and two assists to his name, which is even more impressive when you consider that Ipswich are new into the division. More than a third of the Blues’ goals this season have come from him.
This is his first full season as an out-and-out no.9, and he’s performing at a high level in the most competitive league in world football.
On the flip side, his recent form has been somewhat underwhelming compared to the first half of the season. He’s scored three times in 2025, although his goal against Fulham was a penalty. From open play, he hasn’t had a lot to work with.
Ipswich’s dip in performances haven't helped. He hasn’t had great service, leaving him to chase shadows as an isolated striker. He’s cut a frustrated figure at times, which is understandable. Of course, he can do more, but he’s carrying a heavy weight on his shoulders.
The 22-year-old can bring different strengths to Three Lions' front line _(Image: PA)_
**What he can bring**
Delap is different to England’s current crop of strikers.
Kane is a poacher. He’s a clinical finisher, but one who perhaps lacks mobility and pace. His passing range is impressive, but there has been a decline in his performances for the national team - even if he's performing as the best striker in the world at Bayern.
He’s a level above the rest, but he needs some help.
Watkins is more lively. He’s fast and agile with a good eye for goal. Consistency has been an issue for him, but he’s at the peak of his career and now playing in the Champions League.
Others like Solanke and Abraham have their strengths, but Delap seems capable of doing a bit of everything. He has pace, mobility, agility, strength, aggression and a real clinical streak both inside and outside the box.
He’s also a really intelligent footballer. He knows how to read the game, to get into pockets of space that other players usually wouldn’t find and to be a nuisance. That should suit Tuchel’s approach as a highly technical manager.
The former Chelsea manager is also known for intense training sessions, squeezing every last drop of energy from his players to maximise the time he has to work with them. Town boss Kieran McKenna is similar, and his side boast some of the best running numbers in the Premier League as a result. Delap wouldn’t be caught out by what Tuchel wants to do.
Crucially, there has to be one eye on the future. England aren’t looking to be the best team in the world immediately. They are expected to cruise through their World Cup qualifying group to reach next summer’s tournament in North America. That’s where they will be judged.
By developing a relationship with Tuchel in the next few months, Delap can become a dependable player for years to come. The building blocks will have to be put in place soon if that’s to happen.
Thomas Tuchel has attended two Ipswich games in the last few weeks _(Image: PA)_
**Tuchel’s scouting**
Tuchel has attended two Ipswich games so far this season. The first was in the FA Cup, where Delap was named on the bench. The 22-year-old was brought on ahead of extra time, where he showed his strength to create a late chance before going down under pressure. He then dispatched his spot-kick in style in the penalty shoot-out.
There are other players that the manager would have been there to see, of course. Forest started Callum Hudson-Odoi in the game, while Nuno Espirito Santo brought on both Elliot Anderson and Morgan Gibbs-White later on. It wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see any of them in the squad.
Tuchel was then seen at Selhurst Park a week later when Town travelled to Crystal Palace. The Eagles have a number of England internationals in their ranks, such as Marc Guehi, Adam Wharton and Eberechi Eze, but this time, Delap started as well.
He had his moments, showcasing his physicality and striking ability, but it certainly wasn’t his best game. He’ll be hoping that Tuchel will focus on his clips from earlier in the campaign instead of the matches that he saw live.
The striker has 10 caps for England Under-21s _(Image: PA)_
**Will he get called up?**
It won’t be long until we find out whether or not Delap makes the cut for Tuchel’s first squad, but it feels like this is his big chance.
There’s a lot going in his favour. Tuchel comes in with a clean slate and little in the way of allegiances. He’ll simply pick the players he thinks are best for the job, and there’s a clear lack of options up front.
As mentioned, the manager’s success will be judged by how he performs at major tournaments, so he’ll surely have an eye on the future. Delap could be a big player for him in the future, even if minutes at international level are hard to come by in the early stages.
Kane won’t be able to lead the line forever and Tuchel will have to start planning for the next generation. Delap’s performances suggest that he’s among the top three English strikers on current form, so I think we will see him in the squad today.
Leif Davis was seen as a potential England left-back earlier in the campaign _(Image: PA)_
**Anyone else?**
All the talk about Leif Davis earning an England call-up has quickly dissipated.
The left-back performed exceptionally well in the Championship last season, with lots of calls for him to join up with the Three Lions as a result. That continued into the start of the Premier League campaign, but his performances haven’t quite hit the heights that many had hoped.
In my eyes, there’s still an argument for him to be involved. Manchester United’s Luke Shaw is unable to stay fit and Newcastle’s Lewis Hall has been ruled out until the end of the season with an ankle injury.
Tyrick Mitchell of Crystal Palace is an obvious contender, while Arsenal youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly has also caught the eye. That being said, it’s an area where England lack depth and probably a bit of quality.
Tuchel is expected to play a 3-4-3 formation, using attack-minded wing-backs for width. That could really suit Davis, who perhaps struggles with the defensive side of his game in the Premier League.
Could he be involved? It would be a pretty big shock and looks unlikely at this stage, especially with some fans keen to see Conor Townsend starting ahead of him at Ipswich. This probably isn’t the time for Tuchel to take a closer look at him.
Nonetheless, the fact that we are talking about two potential England call-ups in this squad is really exciting. The last Town player to represent the Three Lions was Richard Wright back in 2000, so it really would be something to celebrate.