Thomas Tuchel makes Arsenal and Man Utd calls as England boss springs squad surprises
Thomas Tuchel begins his countdown to the World Cup on Friday with Myles Lewis-Skelly set for an England call-up.
Tuchel will name his first England squad on Friday for the qualifiers against Albania and Latvia as the first two of his 15 games before next year’s tournament in the United States.
England boss Tuchel compiled a 55 man “long list” which is believed to have actually gone up to 57 because of injuries, fitness and potential availability. Arsenal teenager Lewis-Skelly, 18, is in line for a first senior call-up after his impressive form and Tuchel has made dozens of phone calls to check in with players.
Marcus Rashford, 27, is desperate to be involved. He hasn’t played for England in a year, having missed out on the Euros and was left out in the cold for the first half of this season at Manchester United. But Rashford, who has scored 17 goals in 60 caps, has caught Tuchel’s eye since going to Aston Villa on loan.
Tuchel has eight qualifiers this year but with friendlies – they already have Wales and Senegal in the diary – and World Cup warm-ups they are likely to play 15 games ahead of next year’s tournament.
Rashford has reignited his love for the game at Villa and that definitely extends to playing for England. He is believed to be on the long list but faces huge competition with the likes of Morgan Rogers and Morgan Gibbs-White emerging in the last few months. Callum Hudson-Odoi is also back in the frame.
Tuchel has a huge problem in defence with the likes of Harry Maguire, John Stones and Trent Alexander-Arnold out injured. Jarrad Branthwaite is set to be included. Chelsea‘s Reece James is fit and Tuchel rated him highly while in charge at Stamford Bridge.
Tuchel did make a phone call to Arsenal’s Ben White with the defender out of the picture since he flew home from the 2022 World Cup. White has started just one game in four months so is unlikely to make it this time but is giving serious consideration to making a return to England duty.
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The injury issue is even more acute at left back with Luke Shaw and Lewis Hall out. Tuchel is set to include Lewis-Skelly and Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has given the green light to the call-up.
Tuchel has also watched Crystal Palace ’s Tyrick Mitchell, 25, who has two caps but his last came three years ago. Twenty four years ago, Sven Goran Eriksson – England’s first foreign boss – sprang a huge surprise by calling Charlton’s Chris Powell into his first squad.
The same could happen for Ipswich’s Leif Davis, 25, who is believed to be on the “long list” but is a long shot to make the cut as Lewis-Skelly and the likes of Mitchell, Tino Livramento and Rico Lewis are ahead of him. Davis’ teammate Liam Delap is also on the long list and has a chance ahead of the World Cup.
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