Having spent most of 2025 frequenting Premier League directors boxes and St George’s Park, Thomas Tuchel must now trim a 55-player longlist into his first England squad.
His selection for those matches – World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia – will provide the initial blueprint for the Tuchel era.
While rampant injuries make some decisions for him, how closely he will stick to Gareth Southgate‘s trusted core is the key question.
But there may well be some surprise choices in Friday’s announcement – here are eight of those potential names.
Reece James
This might not be a huge surprise given Tuchel and James’s Champions League-winning history, but Chelsea’s captain has played just five minutes for England since September 2022.
While he did not start in Sunday’s win over Leicester due to illness, he is back at full fitness and his selection makes more sense than a call-up for Ben White, even as an olive branch after his self-imposed exile.
There is a world in which James becomes a defining figure for Tuchel’s England – if, of course, his body allows it.
Elliot Anderson
Eligible for Scotland and having even been called up by Steve Clarke in August 2023, Anderson has since committed to England but is yet to make a senior squad.
Central midfield is perhaps the most open position in this squad – aside from Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham, there are pros and cons to every option.
Conor Gallagher is the most established third choice, but has not been starting regularly for Atletico Madrid and only made two starts under Tuchel at Chelsea.
Adam Wharton remains excellent but has only just returned from a long injury, Kobbie Mainoo is out, Angel Gomes has not played more than 45 minutes for Lille since November.
By the time you start hearing names like Lewis Miley and Joe Willock, you worry we’ve strayed a bit far from reality.
In the sweet spot here is Anderson – in excellent form, already playing in a double pivot for Nottingham Forest in a 4-2-3-1, constantly improving. Ensuring he cannot be tempted by Scotland again is extra motivation for selection. This feels a safe pick.
James Trafford
England have a lot of possible goalkeepers without too many standouts. Jordan Pickford’s place is so long established it feels unquestionable – although it certainly isn’t – while Dean Henderson’s Crystal Palace performances should also earn him a spot.
But then there’s the rest. Aaron Ramsdale has done a valiant job at feigning surprise as another team ships four past Southampton, while Nick Pope still struggles with his distribution and has made some bizarre mistakes.
Sam Johnstone has not started since Vitor Pereira joined Wolves, which means the best goalkeeper is in the Championship.
There’s no doubt Trafford will play for England eventually, having been called up to the provisional Euro 2024 squad and winning the U21 Euro 2023 without conceding.
Having kept 25 Championship clean sheets this season and conceded 10 league goals, there is no question his form merits a call-up, and his potential is greater than any other contender. Bedding him into the squad feels the best use of the third keeper spot.
Djed Spence
An unimaginable selection as recently as last December, Spence has since become one of Tottenham’s most consistent performers, helped by appearing as comfortable on either flank.
With England lacking options in both full-back positions due to injury and age, this is a massive opportunity for Spence. Other potential names in this role include two of Tuchel’s former Champions League winners in Reece James and Ben Chilwell.
Ethan Nwaneri
This might seem optimistic given England’s established attacking options, but there is a noticeable lack of available right wingers.
Bukayo Saka’s injury and Phil Foden’s dramatic regression leave an opening which Nwaneri might well be the form option to fill.
Like Trafford, he’s an obvious future international, and these are the kind of fixtures to help him acclimatise to the senior squad.
There’s a fair argument that despite how he’s taken to top-flight football this could still be a tad early, but Tuchel might believe he needs to see Nwaneri up close.
Danny Welbeck
Welbeck earned his most recent and 42nd England cap at the 2018 World Cup but is midway through his most prolific goalscoring season since leaving Manchester United.
Seven goals and four assists in 17 Premier League starts is an excellent return by any standards, and the 34-year-old is more obviously similar to Harry Kane than any of the other striking options.
Of course this is unlikely to happen, probably behind Kane, Ollie Watkins, Ivan Toney, Liam Delap and Dominic Solanke in the pecking order. But that doesn’t mean it won’t.
Archie Gray
It’s odd to suggest Archie Gray could get a run in central midfield for England before he’s even really played there for Tottenham, but it’s not impossible.
Given the lack of defensive midfield options outlined above, even at 18 a player like Gray could be a crucial figure for Tuchel in the longer term.
His versatility and obvious maturity mean he should fit in easily.
Myles Lewis-Skelly
Lewis Hall’s injury should mean at least one 18-year-old is included in Tuchel’s first squad – Lewis-Skelly.
While he’s clearly raw and disciplinary issues are an understandable consequence of his age and the pressure placed on him, his inclusion makes sense in the short-term given a lack of left-backs and in the long-term as a potential midfield option.
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