It’s official: Thomas Tuchel has named his first England squad and while the majority picks itself, the former Chelsea boss – who is just the third non-Englishman to take on the role – has not been afraid to upset the apple cart with a few of his picks.
The obvious headline-stealer is that Jordan Henderson, who last turned out for his country in November 2023, is back in the fold, while the likes of Myles Lewis-Skelly and Dan Burn have received their maiden call-ups by the Krumbach-born tactician.
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Jubilation for those aside, there is plenty of talent that has been snubbed by Tuchel and his entourage as they prepare for two World Cup qualifiers against Latvia and Albania. From Liam Delap to Morgan Gibbs-White, let’s take a look at the top eight stars.
Elliot Anderson
Nottingham Forest
elliot anderson
Elliot Anderson could have broken his senior international duck in 2023… for Scotland. Steve Clarke called the youngster up for two matches, but he pulled out via injury, leaving the door ajar for England to swoop in and secure an engine room all-rounder for the foreseeable future.
Anderson, 22, is able to deputise in attacking midfield, screen in front of the back four or act as a box-to-box threat: he’s a jack of all trades in fact. They say games are won in midfield and his influence on Nottingham Forest's high-flying nature this season could be replicated on the international stage. Just not this month, it seems.
Ethan Nwaneri
Arsenal
Granted, Ethan Nwaneri is just 17 years of age. His performances for Arsenal this season, however, suggest otherwise. A mature head on young shoulders, the teenage phenom has shouldered much of the creation burden, especially in the absence (through injury) of his compatriot Bukayo Saka.
Widely regarded as one of the best teenagers in world football, the world is Nwaneri’s oyster. So far in 2024/25, Mikel Arteta has been wary of throwing his straight in the deep end but, when relied upon, the winger has settled in perfectly: in 28 appearances, he’s scored a total of eight goals and notched the solitary assist.
Jarrad Branthwaite
Everton
There’s a reason why Jarrad Branthwaite has been linked with a big-money, high-profile move to Manchester United, isn’t there? Imposing, calm on the ball and (most importantly) left-footed, the Carlisle-born youngster’s profile is unique, and it could be an attractive prospect for Tuchel and Co – but clearly not.
A mainstay at the heart of Everton’s back four this campaign, Branthwaite was overlooked during Gareth Southgate’s time in charge and Tuchel, 51, needs to ensure the same mistake is not made. At 22, he has plenty of years left in the tank but has already established himself as a regular in England’s primary division.
Conor Gallagher
Atletico Madrid
Conor Gallagher is not in the squad. I repeat, Conor Gallagher is not in the squad. The same all-action central midfielder who has lit up the Champions League this season under Diego Simeone. Having worked under Tuchel’s stewardship before, the former Chelsea enforcer appeared to be a shoo-in.
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Simeone’s Atletico Madrid has proven to be perfect for the central midfielder and what he can provide England is something different to what Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice can – a ground-eating enforcer, who is willing to cover every blade of grass without fail. Gallagher is already a 21-cap international for England but isn’t set to enhance that number this month.
Djed Spence
Tottenham Hotspur
What with the left-back being an area in dire need of ironing out thanks to the persistent injury concerns regarding Manchester United's Luke Shaw and Ben Chilwell, Djed Spence is up there with one of Tuchel’s chief options – but he’s not been picked, which is an odd decision when you consider the 24-year-old’s versatility.
Whether he’s been deployed on the right or left-hand side of Tottenham Hotspur’s back line, London-born Spence is something of a Swiss Army Knife, and he’s a very different stylistic fit from the full-backs already at the new manager’s disposal. His athleticism and robustness in one-v-one situations would be interesting to see.
Adam Wharton
Crystal Palace
Much like there is for Gallagher, there’s a serious conversation to be had about who joins Bellingham and Rice in England’s midfield constellation and, well, Real Madrid-linked Adam Wharton has put together a compelling case to be in the conversation thanks to his very rare profile for an England native.
What is so mightily impressive about the 21-year-old is his range of passing – whether it’s lofting balls from a deeper position and punching passes between the lines, the Blackburn Rovers academy graduate is your go-to guy. Capped once by the Three Lions, when the Crystal Palace man will get his next chance remains to be seen, but it’ll be soon, for sure.
Morgan Gibbs-White
Nottingham Forest
Somehow, just somehow, the talismanic Gibbs-White has been subject to the bad news that he’s been left out of Tuchel’s maiden squad. The figurehead of Nottingham Forest’s unlikely charge for Champions League qualification, the twice-capped international seems to be a non-negotiable pick but, of course, his position is already star-studded.
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And that could be the reason behind his shock omission – one that is made even crazier when you factor in Henderson's inclusion. Though not a return to sniff at, Gibbs-White has only notched five goals and six assists this season – but his all-round influence has carved his side into an unlikely challenger for the top four, and he deserved that call-up.
Liam Delap
Ipswich Town
Ivan Toney is now plying his trade for Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League and Dominic Solanke not always at the races in north London, it leaves the door open for Liam Delap – recognised as one of the best strikers in the Premier League – to stake a claim of being Harry Kane’s understudy for years to come.
Delap, son of throw-in master Rory, has plundered 10 Premier League strikes this season and, if he continues his upward trajectory, the brazen centre-forward has all the tools to become England’s goal scorer-in-chief following Kane’s eventual retirement. He’s powerful, somewhat silky and extremely potent – the perfect blend for a top line-leader.