Three major England decisions facing Thomas Tuchel ahead of latest squad announcement | OneFootball

Thomas Tuchel names his latest England squad on Friday ahead of the March friendlies against Uruguay and Japan at Wembley

With less than 100 days to go until England’s opening game of the World Cup against Croatia, time is running out for players to make their case for inclusion.

This will be Tuchel’s last chance to work with his group before naming his World Cup squad towards the end of the season, so it is a pivotal moment in their preparations.

Here are three crucial areas for Tuchel to decide as he prepares to name his latest squad for the Uruguay and Japan matches.

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Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kobbie Mainoo and Cole Palmer could return to Tuchel’s squad (Getty Images)

Forwards

Harry Kane will arrive at the World Cup as the world’s best No. 9 but who figures behind him is Tuchel’s biggest puzzle. During their eight-game qualifying campaign 11 different players occupied the wide or attacking midfield positions but only one featured in every match: Morgan Rogers.

He was excellent while the noise around Jude Bellingham, whom many assumed Rogers was replacing, built during autumn. Regardless of his form being up and down at Aston Villa the England No. 10 role is presently his to give up. Bellingham’s hamstring injury is a concern, although he is close to returning at Real Madrid, while Cole Palmer has struggled to hit top form during a difficult campaign at Chelsea.

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(Getty Images)

Phil Foden looked like a dead cert when he was purring for Manchester City in the middle of winter but he is another who currently looks a little off his brilliant best. On the flip side Eberechi Eze is flourishing at Arsenal and in qualifying he was the only player aside from Kane to score more than once. Club-mate Bukayo Saka is another obvious inclusion while Noni Madueke should be considered as an impact player.

Marcus Rashford was the next most used in qualifying after Rogers but has not contributed as much at Barcelona since late January. He may need to show a little more to be certain of a spot, which is not easy considering Barca’s depth. Newcastle’s season, which reached a nadir at Camp Nou, has been below expectations but Anthony Gordon has done his claims for a place no harm at all.

Jarrod Bowen has often carried West Ham through a difficult campaign, while Morgan Gibbs-White, who made two appearances off the bench in qualifying, appears the most likely to miss the squad entirely.

Alan Smith

Since starting the Euro 2024 final, Kobbie Mainoo has played just one game for England, the 2-0 win against the Republic of Ireland in Lee Carsley’s first game in charge. Thomas Tuchel has previously said the Manchester United midfielder has “the experience, the power, the quality, the talent” to be part of his squad, but was lacking the time on the pitch to be considered for selection. “Free Kobbie Mainoo” was a message displayed to Ruben Amorim, before the Portuguese’s departure.

But the arrival of Michael Carrick at Old Trafford has released Mainoo, with nine consecutive starts and a string of impressive performances offering Tuchel a look at what the 20-year-old could bring to a World Cup squad. Elliot Anderson is the leading candidate to partner Declan Rice at the base of midfield, leaving space for perhaps just one alternatives outside of the other established duo. Tuchel has regularly selected the experienced Jordan Henderson, and likes Adam Wharton.

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Mainoo has taken his opportunity since returning to Manchester United’s starting line-up (Getty Images)

Curtis Jones has been given chances under Tuchel but was left out of his last squad in November, although perhaps could help the sudden crisis of availability at right back (more on that below) helps his cause as a utility option. Ruben Loftus-Cheek is unavailable after suffering a broken jaw, while Conor Gallagher’s January move to Tottenham has not helped his chances of a recall.

Alex Scott was a surprise first-time call-up in November, but did not win his first cap. Could there be room for one of James Garner or Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, both of whom are in form for Everton?

Jamie Braidwood

Right back

It’s so often the way the cookie crumbles. Just a few days after Kyle Walker announced his international retirement, England’s first-choice right back went down with a hamstring injury. Any second thoughts, Kyle? Reece James, one of the first names on the England teamsheet under Tuchel, will miss out on Friday’s squad. It is not James’s first injury; in fact, in the last seven seasons, it is actually his 23rd different injury-related absence.

As such, whether James recovers or not, it is essential that Tuchel has a plan B for the summer. With Kieran Trippier long retired, March’s internationals are the perfect trial run for a fresh face and Newcastle’s Tino Livramento looks the favourite to step-in, though has just returned himself after two months with a hamstring complaint. His assuredness and solidity make him a reliable deputy – that is, if he isn’t needed at left-back.

Different options are available, though. Trent Alexander-Arnold has played just 26 minutes under Tuchel but looks to be peaking at just the right time and has impressed in the last month at Real Madrid. Surely the ex-Liverpool man, with his wondrous passing ability, receives a call-up?

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Alexander-Arnold made just one appearance during England’s World Cup qualifying campaign (Getty Images)

Other candidates come with caveats: Djed Spence has played under Tuchel but has been positioned at left-back for Tottenham, amidst their horrid run in 2026. Jarrell Quansah (played at RB in Albania in November) and Ezri Konsa (played at RB against Wales in October) are centre-backs by trade but have not looked out of place on the right-side. Their versatility should see them make the squad.

Proper outside bets include the Liverpool pair of Joe Gomez (15 caps) and Curtis Jones, with the midfielder having filled in at right back at various points this season. And what about the forgotten man, in Arsenal’s Ben White?