Coventry City ace will be baffled by Thomas Tuchel's big England decision | OneFootball

Thomas Tuchel's March England squad will rightly baffle many, but especially one Coventry City player ahead of the World Cup this summer...

It is not often that a player can feel genuinely hard done by when omitted from an England squad, particularly any Championship players — even if they are playing for high-flying Coventry City.

But it is also true, particularly given the depth available to Thomas Tuchel ahead of a major tournament, that perhaps Premier League football is required to make the step up. That said, James Trafford was handed a call-up as a Championship goalkeeper last term.

Kalvin Phillips was also handed an England cap before ever playing Premier League football, having been given a chance after Leeds United's promotion but before facing Liverpool on the opening day of that season. So there is a precedent for a Championship player to get their chance.

In the case of Carl Rushworth, there is a strong argument that the Coventry City loanee has every right to be scratching his head.

Rushworth has been nothing short of exceptional in the Championship this season as the division's standout goalkeeper.

Carl Rushworth should have been selected over Jason Steele for England

Week after week, the Brighton-owned 'keeper has demonstrated the kind of shot-stopping consistency, command of his area, and composure in possession that modern international goalkeepers are judged on.

For Coventry City, he has often been the difference between a point and none at all. Or the difference between three and a draw. That form makes his omission from Tuchel’s expanded 35-man squad for the March friendlies against Uruguay and Japan all the more puzzling.

The England boss has, on the surface, made logical choices with several of his goalkeeping options. Jordan Pickford remains the established number one, while Dean Henderson has rediscovered consistency at Crystal Palace. Aaron Ramsdale and James Trafford also represent sensible selections, offering a blend of experience and long-term potential.

However, it is the inclusion of Jason Steele that raises eyebrows. At 35 and without a single England cap, Steele’s call-up feels less about genuine competition and more about squad management. The Brighton goalkeeper is widely viewed as a reliable, experienced presence and someone who can support training sessions and provide cover if required.

In that sense, the comparison to Tom Heaton in previous squads under Gareth Southgate is understandable. But if Steele is not realistically in contention to feature at all at the upcoming World Cup, then the decision to include him over Rushworth becomes increasingly difficult to justify.

Tuchel has already shown a willingness to think long-term, with Trafford’s inclusion a clear nod to the future. So why not extend that same logic to Rushworth? At 24, he is entering a crucial stage of his development, and exposure to the senior England setup — even in just a training capacity — could have been invaluable.

More importantly, it would have sent a message. International selection should reward performance, and few English goalkeepers outside the Premier League can match what Rushworth has produced this season. By overlooking him, Tuchel risks reinforcing the idea that outstanding displays in the Championship are still not enough to break into the international picture.

That feels particularly harsh given England’s need to plan beyond the current cycle. Pickford will not be number one forever, and while Trafford is highly rated, there is space for more than one young goalkeeper to be integrated into the fold. His confidence with Coventry is also sky-high.

That’s why his omission from Tuchel’s extended 35-man squad for the March friendlies against Uruguay and Japan is so baffling. For many observers, he hasn’t just been one of the best goalkeepers outside the Premier League — he’s been one of the most in-form English keepers full stop.

Taking five goalkeepers to a preliminary camp suggests Tuchel is casting the net wide. Yet, paradoxically, this was the perfect opportunity to include a form player with genuine long-term upside. Instead, that spot has gone to someone unlikely to feature when it matters most.

Thomas Tuchel's reason for Jason Steele and James Trafford & Carl Rushworth dilemma

Much like Heaton in 2024, England have confirmed that they intend to use Brighton's Steele as the training goalkeeper during the 2026 World Cup. That role may well have value, but exposure to England camps for Rushworth feels like it has far more in the long-term.

For Rushworth, the snub will no doubt sting. But it should also serve as motivation. If he continues on his current trajectory with Coventry, it will become increasingly difficult for England to ignore him as one of their three primary goalkeepers one day.

Rushworth is the best English goalkeeper in the Championship. For Tuchel, this feels like a missed opportunity — one that could come into sharper focus if England find themselves searching for the next reliable presence between the posts in the years ahead.

Much of that hinges on Trafford's development and if he stays at Man City as a second-choice or departs for more regular minutes. Outside of Trafford and Rushworth, it's slim pickings for goalkeepers aged under 25 with real quality and potential.