Injuries, fresh picks & veterans - Tuchel has serious England questions

Thomas Tuchel's last England game in June ended with the head coach and his players coming under heavy fire from angry fans after they were well beaten by Senegal at Nottingham Forest's City Ground.

It was not how it was meant to be when the German with the stellar reputation succeeded Sir Gareth Southgate, and England now looking like they have gone backwards under Tuchel's leadership.

He names his latest squad on Friday for the September World Cup qualifiers at home to Andorra then away to Serbia, so what issues might he be pondering before England's latest camp?

England have lost two guaranteed starters, Arsenal's Bukayo Saka and Jude Bellingham from Real Madrid, to injury, while Chelsea's Cole Palmer is another prime contender who is currently sidelined.

Saka's absence could bring two of his new Arsenal colleagues, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke, into the frame, while Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White and Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers will also hope this pushes them further up the pecking order.

Manchester City's Phil Foden was a notable absentee from Tuchel's last England squad after a poor season at club level. He has only played 15 minutes as a substitute so far this term so a recall would be a surprise.

But Jack Grealish, who left City for a season-long loan at Everton in a desire for more regular first-team football, could be an option, having last played for the national team against Finland in October, 2024.

England assistant manager Anthony Barry watched the 29-year-old impress on his first Everton start with two assists in their 2-0 Premier League win over Brighton.

It remains to be seen whether Grealish's three appearances so far this season will be enough to earn him an international recall.

But Barry's attendance indicated he is back on England's radar.

Mason Mount is another who still has hopes of resurrecting his England career and seems, for now at least, to be free of the injuries that have stalled his progress at Manchester United. But Tuchel may want a prolonged run of form and fitness before thinking of bringing him back into the fold.

Tuchel must also look to fill gaps in central defence with Chelsea's Levi Colwill out for most of the season with a serious knee injury and Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite sidelined with a hamstring problem.

Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi, who may well be a Liverpool player by the time England play, is a strong contender to figure. Tuchel, however, will be relieved Manchester City's vastly experienced John Stones is fit again.

Chelsea's Trevoh Chalobah, Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa and Newcastle United's Dan Burn will hope Tuchel keeps faith, having been part of the last squad that saw an unconvincing 1-0 win in Andorra followed by the 3-1 home loss to Senegal.

Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton is the real standout candidate to come into the squad, not just as a member of the senior set-up but someone who looks to have all the class and temperament to go straight into England's side.

He is primed to add to his single full cap and there will be plenty of head-scratching if he is not included on Friday.

Another who has pressed his claims with a fine start to the season is Nottingham Forest's Elliott Anderson, who played a starring role in England's win in the Under-21 Euros in Slovakia and was selected in the team of the tournament.

Liverpool's Harvey Elliott was another of that team who delivered high-class performances, but he has not been starting at club level, which is why he may yet be involved in transfer activity before the deadline in an attempt to push himself into England contention.

Tuchel created a major stir when recalling Jordan Henderson in March, the former Liverpool captain having not played for his country since November 2023. The move was regarded as a retrograde step and not one designed to signpost the future to next summer's World Cup.

Henderson, who was 35 in June, has since moved back to the Premier League with Brentford after his Ajax spell, but it remains to be seen whether Tuchel regards this as the sort of switch to keep him in his thoughts.

The German has cited Henderson's influence, and he is the most consummate professional, around the squad, but time is ticking towards next summer and it is difficult to see him as a World Cup contender.

There must also be questions marks over Kyle Walker, also 35, who had a nightmare against Senegal. He looked off the pace after an ill-fated loan move to AC Milan from Manchester City.

Walker has since signed for Burnley in a return to the Premier League, insisting he is rejuvenated and in search of the four England caps to reach his century.

But will Tuchel see it the same way?

He could turn to youth, though, with Newcastle United's Tino Livramento and has Chelsea captain Reece James and Real Madrid right- back Trent Alexander-Arnold available.

The last one may be a stretch after Tuchel selected Alexander-Arnold's former Liverpool team-mate Curtis Jones, a midfielder, ahead of him in that position in the win against Andorra.

This should not even be a debate but there have been whispers that Tuchel would like to see some serious competition for his number one.

In reality, that theory is - or should be - a total non-starter.

For all those who mysteriously cast doubt on Pickford's status, he has a track record that explains exactly why he should be first choice.

In his 76 caps, second only to Peter Shilton's 125 for a keeper, England have won 46 games and lost 13. He has kept 37 clean sheets and, measured by Opta stats, has only made one error leading to a goal at senior international level.

Crystal Palace's Dean Henderson and Manchester City's James Trafford may have sights on Pickford's place but, for all the questions Tuchel has to answer, who should be his goalkeeper is not one of them.

With a record tally of 73 goals in 107 appearances, the notion of England captain Harry Kane being absent through injury still remains the great unthinkable for Tuchel.

England still do not seem settled on a reliable deputy in this eventuality, with Ivan Toney summoned from Al-Ahli and the Saudi Pro League at the end of last season, then only getting two minutes of action as a late substitute against Senegal.

Ollie Watkins was the other striker selected last time out, while Tottenham Hotspur's Dominic Solanke was also previously in the frame.

Marcus Rashford, after a loan spell at Aston Villa, is now making another attempt to revive his career away from Manchester United at Barcelona.

He missed out on selection for the last squad after suffering a season-ending hamstring injury while at Villa Park. It would be something of a surprise if Rashford is included, his best hope being the versatility he offers across the forward line.

Chelsea new boy Liam Delap moved to Stamford Bridge with the clear intention of pushing his England claims.

Kane, however, remains irreplaceable.

Arsenal's talented teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly looked the answer to England's prayers at left-back when he made a dream debut against Albania in March, scoring and being voted man of the match in a 2-0 win. At 18 years and 176 days old, he became the youngest England player to score on his senior debut.

He is an outstanding prospect but has been displaced at club level by Riccardo Calafiori so far this season, coming on as substitute for the Italian in wins away to Manchester United and at home to Leeds United.

Luke Shaw is back playing for Manchester United, while Newcastle's Burn, who can operate at left-back as well as in the centre, has yet to convince at international level.

This is where Burn's Newcastle team-mate Livramento's versatility could be crucial. He can operate comfortably on either flank, although right-back is his preference, but he was outstanding on the left in their 3-2 league loss at home to Liverpool.