Thomas Tuchel’s Surprising England Squad Selections: Rashford’s Return and New Faces
In a move that has caught many by surprise, Thomas Tuchel has announced his first England squad, and it includes some unexpected names. Among the most notable is the recall of Marcus Rashford, who has been out of the England setup since March 2024. Rashford, now 27, had fallen out of favor at Manchester United under Ruben Amorim but has found a new lease on life at Aston Villa, where he has already registered three assists since his January loan move.
Tuchel, speaking to the Football Association’s website, expressed his admiration for Rashford’s recent performances. “He’s had a huge impact lately in the matches at Aston Villa,” Tuchel said. “I was delighted to see his effort on the ball and his effort to be the best teammate possible and his consistent energy. There is no doubt about his talent and about his quality, but to see him so decisive and so physically involved gave me the impression that it is the right moment to call him up and give him the extra push that he stays on that level.”
Tuchel, who took over as Gareth Southgate’s permanent successor on January 1, has named a 26-man squad that includes four goalkeepers and a recall for Southampton’s Aaron Ramsdale. Also returning to the setup is Jordan Henderson, who last played for England in November 2023.
One of the most exciting inclusions is Myles Lewis-Skelly, an 18-year-old who has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign at Arsenal. Lewis-Skelly bypasses the under-21 setup entirely to join the senior group. Tuchel admitted that there was some hesitation about fast-tracking the young talent. “It feels a little bit like we fast-forward a career that is already on a fast pace,” Tuchel said. “But in the end, with injuries and the quality and the maturity he showed in the matches, we decided to take him.”
Another interesting selection is Dominic Solanke, who has had an injury-hit campaign at Tottenham but managed to edge out Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins. Meanwhile, Dan Burn has been part of a Newcastle side pushing for a return to Champions League football.
Tuchel suggested that Burn and Henderson could become influential figures as he looks to mold a squad capable of winning next year’s World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. “For me, Jordan is a similar call-up for the same reasons as Dan Burn,” said Tuchel. “They carry these values on their shoulders and they carry their teams. It’s absolutely reliable what they bring in terms of energy and this is where the focus is also for us to build a strong team and a cohesive team. Jordan is a big piece in that puzzle for us.”
Notably absent from the squad is Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is currently suffering from an ankle problem that rules him out of Sunday’s Carabao Cup Final against Newcastle. In his place, Reece James is included despite making just 13 appearances for Chelsea across all competitions due to persistent fitness problems. “Reece works very hard to be in shape,” said Tuchel. “He is fully available. There is no doubt about Reece’s quality and capability and what he can bring to us but we want to be flexible and have a bit of a wider range and that’s why it was a pleasure to bring Reece back in.”
Tuchel’s familiarity with James dates back to his time as Chelsea boss, and he even attempted to sign Kyle Walker during his tenure at Bayern Munich. Walker, now on loan at AC Milan, has been selected in an inexperienced defensive unit that includes Marc Guéhi, Ezri Konsa, Tino Livramento, and Jarell Quansah.
Some notable omissions include Harry Maguire, who was a stalwart under Southgate, and Ben White, who refused to play for England under Southgate. Jack Grealish also misses out.
Meanwhile, Morgan Rogers was first selected by interim head coach Lee Carsley and the Villa midfielder made the cut. FA chief executive Mark Bullingham confirmed last week that Tuchel had a long list of 55 players and he discussed the next steps after whittling that group down.
“I’m very excited now for training finally after so many months already in the job — it’s time to be back on the pitch and hug the players and push the players and implement a certain style of play and implement some rules and principles,” explained Tuchel. “I can’t wait for that. We are very excited to be in charge of a match at Wembley. It’s beyond what I could imagine from my career.”
- Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Southampton), James Trafford (Burnley)
- Defenders: Dan Burn (Newcastle United), Levi Colwill (Chelsea), Marc Guéhi (Crystal Palace), Reece James (Chelsea), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), Tino Livramento (Newcastle United), Jarell Quansah (Liverpool), Kyle Walker (AC Milan, loan from Manchester City)
- Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), Jordan Henderson (Ajax), Curtis Jones (Liverpool), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)
- Forwards: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Marcus Rashford (Aston Villa, loan from Manchester United), Dominic Solanke (Tottenham Hotspur)
Originally Written by: James Olley
