In our new weekly series, our Chief Football Writer John Cross gives his latest England player ratings for Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup 2026 squad
Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire
Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire are pushing for inclusion in England's World Cup squad.
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IN a week where Thomas Tuchel extended his contract beyond the World Cup, the England head coach went to West Ham - and could not have failed to have been impressed by three big figures in Manchester United’s revival.
Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw were mainstays under former England boss Gareth Southgate while Kobbie Mainoo was a big star at the last Euros.
However, last year Tuchel named England squads without a single Manchester United player which felt a significant fall from grace for one of the biggest clubs in world football.
United veteran Maguire, who will be 33 by the time of the World Cup, will be out of contract in the summer but has been a huge force in Michael Carrick’s upturn in results.
Surely it is too late for Maguire, or is it? Maguire was an absolute must for Southgate and they missed his presence at the last Euros when he struggled to prove his match fitness.
His calmness on the ball, threat from set-pieces and power in the air in defence could still make him a force.
Marc Guehi and Ezri Konsa are red-hot favourites to be the first choice pair to start in the States. John Stones is likely to be in the squad if he can prove his fitness at Manchester City.
Dan Burn is another player on Tuchel’s radar which always causes a sharp intake of breath because, let’s be honest, he does not look easy on the eye.
But Tuchel loves Burn’s spirit, he believes he is a great character to have in the squad and his 6ft 7in frame means he is a huge threat at set-pieces which may be crucial in the heat of the US summer.
Can both Burn and Maguire be selected in the same squad?
Maguire’s pace is now the biggest concern for Tuchel but his reading of the game means he is rarely caught out of position.
Shaw will be 31 during next summer’s World Cup and his fitness has long been the concern for England. But, when fit and playing well, you could make a strong case for him being England’s best natural left back.
But can you rely on him to pick him in the 26? At the last Euros, Southgate picked Shaw even though he was not fit for the start of the tournament.
His teammate Mainoo was a revelation at the Euros, becoming a starter as the tournament wore on and his rise from United graduate to England star was as rapid as it was important.
Mainoo’s absence from the United set-up under Ruben Amorim also saw him exiled by England because he was simply not playing.
But his return under interim boss Carrick surely makes him a must-pick again alongside the likes of Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson.
This week, Cross watched West Ham’s draw with Manchester United and saw four players trying to impress the onlooking Tuchel - Maguire, Mainoo, Shaw and Jarrod Bowen.
Here, Cross gives his latest verdict on these selected players and how likely they are right now to be ‘on the plane’ in the summer.
Kobbie Mainoo
This was not his best game but he is still so much better than what went before. He is careful and cool on the ball. Tries to make things happen.
His return is hugely popular with the United fans who love their academy graduates and, after being left unsettled and unhappy under Ruben Amorim, he looks reinvigorated. His speciality is protecting the ball, keeping the ball, progressing the ball and playing forward. He is doing that again - and that could be key for England.
From having no chance and being out in the cold, he is rising fast. Surely he will make the March friendlies to show Thomas Tuchel what he can do.
Kobbie Mainoo of Manchester United
Kobbie Mainoo is back in the Manchester United midfield under new head coach Michael Carrick(Image: Getty Images)
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Jarrod Bowen
He was excellent and has been key to West Ham’s upturn in results and their push to avoid the drop. He was key in Tomas Soucek’s opening goal. It was Bowen’s clever use of his body and strength which opened up the pitch and his low cross was the assist for Soucke to score.
Bowen is rediscovering form and confidence - you can see it in front of your eyes.
His mission appears simple: it looks like a straight fight between Bowen and Noni Madueke to be the back-up right-sided player behind Bukayo Saka. While Madueke’s form has been patchy, Bowen has been disappointing by his standards - until now. He is on the rise again.
Full England player ratings
Here’s John Cross’s latest ratings for how likely each player is to make the England squad (ranked out of 10)
The players are ranked in order in their positions.
Jordan Pickford 10/10
Dean Henderson 8/10
Nick Pope 6/10
James Trafford 5/10
Aaron Ramsdale 3/10
Reece James 9/10
Trent Alexander-Arnold 5/10
Rico Lewis 4/10
Ben White 3/10
Nico O’Reilly 9/10
Lewis Hall 8/10
Tino Livramento 7/10
Luke Shaw 6/10
Djed Spence 6/10
Myles Lewis-Skelly 3/10
Jack Hinshelwood 2/10
Ezri Konsa 9/10
Marc Guehi 9/10
Jarell Quansah 8/10
John Stones 7/10
Dan Burn 7/10
Trevoh Chalobah 7/10
Harry Maguire 6/10
Jarrad Branthwaite 4/10
Levi Colwill 3/10
Elliot Anderson 10/10
Declan Rice 10/10
Jordan Henderson 9/10
Kobbie Mainoo 7/10
Adam Wharton 6/10
Curtis Jones 6/10
Morgan Gibbs-White 6/10
Conor Gallagher 5/10
Mason Mount 4/10
Ruben Loftus-Cheek 3/10
Bukayo Saka 9/10
Noni Madueke 7/10
Jarrod Bowen 7/10
Anthony Gordon 8/10
Marcus Rashford 8/10
Eberechi Eze 5/10
Morgan Rogers 9/10
Jude Bellingham 9/10
Phil Foden 7/10
Cole Palmer 7/10
Harry Kane 10/10
Ollie Watkins 8/10
Dominic Solanke 6/10
Danny Welbeck 6/10
Dominic Calvert-Lewin 6/10
Liam Delap 4/10
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