Noni Madueke singled out for Thomas Tuchel praise after Chelsea winger shines against Andorra | OneFootball

Blues star managed to boost standing in Three Lions squad despite insipid team display against minnows

Thomas Tuchel singled out Noni Madueke as England’s best performer in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Andorra.

Tuchel started Madueke on the right of the attack and switched him to the left after making substitutions midway through the second half, and the Chelsea man was the brightest of England’s forward players.

Tuchel, asked about Madueke’s performance in Barcelona, said: “He was maybe over the course of the match the most dangerous, the most active.

“I could feel his hunger and the desire and determination to do the plan. He was one of the few who met the expectations.”

Madueke was playing for England for the first time under Tuchel and will hope that his performance on the occasion of his sixth senior cap will have pressed his case for involvement in England’s squad for the 2026 World Cup next summer, should they qualify.

Their qualification campaign has started well, despite the low level of Saturday’s performance, as three wins from three games means they are top of Group K with five matches still to play.

They host Senegal at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground on Tuesday night in a friendly match, their final outing until World Cup qualifying resumes in September when Andorra visit Villa Park ahead of a key trip to face Serbia in Belgrade.

Madueke himself acknowledged that the scoreline against Andorra was not what was expected, though insisted it was not all “doom and gloom”.

He told BBC Radio 5 Live: “We haven't lost yet, we haven't conceded yet [under Tuchel]. Grounds for optimism.

"Today wasn't as everyone would have hoped in terms of the scoreline, but we won the game.

"My job is to create and score goals. I was able to create one today so I'm pleased.

"He [Tuchel] is very intense. very clear with what he wants. He has high standards. He doesn't allow anyone to drop under them. That's the kind of coach that will benefit England.

"We're not stupid, we know the scoreline isn't the one we wanted to have. I thought there were good parts of the performance. It's not all doom and gloom. There are positives to take."