The German is set to name his inaugural squad for his first two games in charge and should consider giving these previous call-ups another shot
The wait is almost over. Five months after being appointed and more than two months after finally beginning work, Thomas Tuchel is set to name his first England squad for the Three Lions' opening World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia. The coach has both been up and down the country watching live games and monitoring potential players from afar while working from home, to the chagrin of certain sections of the English media.
There has been a lot of attention on the players who are hoping for a first ever England call-up after impressive seasons, such as Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap and Arsenal full-back Myles Lewis-Skelly, but Tuchel will also be considering a number of players who have already proven themselves but for different reasons have faded from the international picture.
GOAL looks at six players who have played their way back into contention for a place in the England team and who will be eagerly checking their phones when Tuchel announces his squad…
Getty ImagesAaron Wan-Bissaka
Aaron Wan-Bissaka represented England at every age group, but has still never made a senior appearance, with an injury forcing him out of the only squad he was called into back in 2019. He holds dual nationality with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but is yet to represent the African nation at senior level, suggesting he is holding out for an eventual return to the England scene.
And there could be no better time for him to make his Three Lions bow. Wan-Bissaka's one-on-one defending has always been his major strength, but he has stepped up in an attacking sense since joining West Ham, and recently starred in the Hammers' shock win at Arsenal amid a run of directly contributing to four Premier League goals since November.
With Kyle Walker on the decline, England sure could do with another right-back who can defend reliably, while Wan-Bissaka's attacking improvements should only increase his chances of a long-awaited international bow.
AdvertisementGettyIvan Toney
Ivan Toney showed his capacity to make an instant impact when he set up Harry Kane's winner against Slovakia just a few minutes after coming off the bench at Euro 2024, while he also scored a penalty in the shootout win against Switzerland. He clearly felt he had deserved a bigger role in the tournament, but him moving away from the Premier League to join Al-Ahli effectively ended his international career.
But should it have? Toney is scoring for fun in Saudi Arabia, having netted 10 goals in his last six games to make it 21 for the season in the Pro League and AFC Champions League. England, meanwhile, still have few alternatives to Kane as a centre-forward, and the captain's fitness can never be taken for granted.
There is another argument for getting Toney involved again, too: Many England players – especially Kane – looked burned out at the Euros after a relentless European season, while several players who are now plying their trade in the Middle East, such as N'Golo Kante and Aymeric Laporte, looked refreshed due to the slower pace of the game at their new homes.
Getty ImagesJames Maddison
It does not feel right that a player of James Maddison's quality and capacity to make the difference in a flash has only made seven appearances for England. The midfielder has had a bit of a fraught relationship with the national team after he dropped out of a squad in 2019 having contracted the flu, only to be photographed in a casino days later. But Maddison's talent and recent form, namely his 17 goal contributions in 21 appearances, warrants him being given a second chance.
And Tuchel certainly seems to think so, having reached out to Maddison about the possibility of him returning to the squad. The Tottenham midfielder's flair could make a real difference to England when searching for a goal in a tight, tense knockout game, and after a Euro 2024 where so many players seemed afraid to step up, that alone feels like a reason for him to be recalled.
AFPMarcus Rashford
Marcus Rashford had been part of every England tournament squad since he broke through in 2016, so it was a huge shock when Southgate left him at home for Euro 2024, even if his performances for Manchester United did not justify his inclusion. Rashford's England career appeared to be over altogether after interim boss Lee Carsley discarded him for the six Nations League games, but Tuchel's appointment sparked speculation that a recall could be on the cards.
And Rashford would fully deserve another opportunity if it comes. He has revitalised his flagging career while on loan at Aston Villa, looking every bit the player who scored 30 goals in a season for United two years ago while thriving back in a 4-2-3-1 formation. He looks much more motivated, he looks sharp and he looks dangerous. He has provided three assists in his last four appearances for Unai Emery's side and has made a real impression on his team-mates in training.
