With a little over one year until Thomas Tuchel aims to guide England to their first World Cup in 60 years, the gauntlet has been thrown to Newcastle United's key stars. [Monday morning saw Tino Livramento removed from the England squad for the clash with Latvia](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-united-see-second-star-31265607), as the new head coach axed three of his 26-man squad to meet UEFA rules.
"We have to get the process right to find the best group," Tuchel said. "If that means we leave very good and talented players out of the squad this can happen. In the next 16 months it is important we find the right team and not the most talented 26 players.
"We need to get the team right. We need to get the team spirit right because it's one thing to play qualifiers, it's another thing to play tournament football."
Livramento was an unused substitute in Friday's 2-0 win over Albania and is yet to showcase what he can do in England's senior side under his former boss when he was at Chelsea. Back then, Tuchel again failed to really see the right-back in action as he opted to join Southampton in search of first-team football.
"We did everything to keep him here, to show him his future and his possibilities to compete for a position in our team," then-Blues boss Tuchel said at the time.
Now, Livramento has 16 months to make the right-back position his own. That is some ask given the amount of competition in that specific role. Kyle Walker started last week, Trent Alexander-Arnold will be knocking on the door post-injury, Aaron Wan-Bissaka is impressing for West Ham United and there may be a way back for Ben White after his recent exile.
The same can be said for [Dan Burn, who impressed on his England debut against Albania](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-united-star-dan-burn-31264101) and could be in line to fight for a spot at next year's showpiece across the pond. This, despite incredible talent vying for a spot at the heart of Tuchel's backline.
Livramento is beginning to hold his own at club level, becoming a key player in Eddie Howe's Newcastle side after managing to oust Kieran Trippier earlier this term. He will most likely spent the remainder of the domestic campaign at left-back, with Trippier on the right, following Lewis Hall's season-ending foot injury.
Monday's axe will provide Livramento all the motivation he needs to ensure he is in the thoughts of Tuchel come the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico in 16 months time. Newcastle will benefit from a key player working towards that particular goal.
Anthony Gordon will be hoping he can accomplish the same feat after being forced out of Tuchel's maiden squad through injury. The same can be said for Burn and possibly some other Toon stars who may have their eye on a shock call up un the summer of 2026.