Marcus Rashford is set to make his return to the England squad after a 12-month absence, while Jack Grealish is expected to miss out on Thomas Tuchel’s first selection as head coach. According to David Ornstein in The Athletic, the Manchester United loanee will be named in the squad for England’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia, despite struggling for form at Aston Villa.
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Rashford’s International Return
Rashford, who has not played for England since a friendly defeat to Brazil in March 2024, has had a turbulent 12 months. His loan move to Aston Villa in January was seen as a chance to rejuvenate his career, but he has yet to score in nine appearances for the club, managing three assists. More concerningly, he has started just once in the Premier League since his arrival.
Despite his lack of goals and limited playing time, Rashford’s return to the squad suggests that Tuchel values his international experience. The 27-year-old has 60 caps and 17 goals for England, and prior to being left out of the Euro 2024 squad, he had not missed a major tournament since making his international debut in 2016.
Grealish Set to Miss Out
While Rashford is set for a recall, Grealish’s England future looks uncertain. The 29-year-old has struggled for game time at Manchester City in 2025, making only three substitute appearances in the Premier League this calendar year. The Athletic notes that Grealish was part of the last England squad in November but had to withdraw due to injury. His continued absence from first-team football has likely cost him a place in Tuchel’s plans.
With England boasting attacking options such as Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka, and James Maddison, Grealish faces an uphill battle to reclaim his spot. If he fails to secure more minutes at club level, his international prospects may continue to diminish.
Other Notable Inclusions and Absences
One of the surprise names in Tuchel’s squad is Rashford’s Villa teammate, Morgan Rogers. The 22-year-old attacking midfielder has been in fine form, contributing 12 goals and seven assists in 41 appearances this season. Having featured in both of England’s matches during the last international window, Rogers appears to have earned Tuchel’s trust.
Meanwhile, Harry Maguire is a notable absentee. The Manchester United defender has been ruled out due to a calf injury and is unlikely to feature in his club’s upcoming Premier League match against Leicester City.
England will begin their 2026 World Cup qualification campaign with two home fixtures at Wembley, taking on Albania on March 21 before facing Latvia on March 24. Tuchel is set to announce his squad on Friday morning before addressing the media.
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Rashford’s recall is an intriguing decision. While his form at Villa has been underwhelming, his experience and versatility make him a valuable asset in a squad that will be adapting to a new manager. Tuchel clearly sees something in Rashford that warrants inclusion, perhaps hoping that the international stage can reignite his confidence.
On the other hand, Grealish’s omission feels inevitable given his lack of minutes at City. The attacking midfielder has always been a fan favourite, but competition for places is fierce, and his inability to secure regular game time under Pep Guardiola has hurt his international prospects. With players like Foden and Maddison offering similar creativity, Tuchel’s decision seems justified.
Morgan Rogers’ inclusion is a refreshing move, showing that form at club level will be rewarded. England fans will be eager to see how he performs on the international stage, especially if he is given significant minutes in the upcoming qualifiers.
The bigger question now is whether Rashford can take this opportunity and prove he still belongs at the highest level. If he fails to make an impact, this could be his final chance before Tuchel looks elsewhere for attacking reinforcements.