Jordan Henderson has earned a shock recall with Marcus Rashford and Myles Lewis-Skelly also included in Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad for two upcoming World Cup 2026 qualifiers.
Former Liverpool midfielder Henderson last featured for England in November 2023, and currently plays for Ajax after a failed stint in Saudi Arabia.
That initial move to the Saudi Pro League appeared to bring an end to his England chances, but 12 months on from last making the squad – he was an unused sub against Belgium last March – the 34-year-old is named among four central midfielders in Tuchel’s squad.
Meanwhile, it is a first inclusion in a year for Rashford, who is currently on loan at Aston Villa from Manchester United and has enjoyed a bright start under Unai Emery’s side.
Lewis-Skelly, 18, earns his first senior call-up. There is also an inclusion for Dan Burn, the versatile Newcastle defender who makes the senior squad for the first time.
Tuchel also brings Reece James back into the squad having worked with the full-back previously at Chelsea.
In attack, Spurs’ Dominic Solanke has got the nod as Harry Kane’s back-up over Villa striker Ollie Watkins.
There is no place for Jack Grealish, with Jarrod Bowen and Anthony Gordon both included ahead of the Manchester City winger.
Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White is a notable absentee, the attacking midfielder among the key plays leading their surprise Champions League push.
Manchester United defender Harry Maguire and Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton are also overlooked.
England host Albania on Friday 21 March at Wembley, Tuchel’s first game in charge, and take on Latvia at the national stadium three days later on Monday 24 March.
How, and why, Henderson earned England recall
This isn’t entirely clear, and won’t be until Tuchel addresses the media later on Friday morning.
On one hand, Henderson – a favourite of previous England manager Gareth Southgate – is the leader of a team on course to win the Dutch title, but of late he has played just 38 minutes of Ajax’s most recent four league games.
The Ajax captain picked up a hamstring injury in February and has since only played 90 minutes once, in their Europa League defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt last week.
In that match he even picked up a yellow to miss Thursday night’s return leg due to suspension, and so his inclusion in Tuchel’s England squad speaks more towards the style the new Three Lions manager may be looking to play.
It is a pragmatic inclusion, if not an exciting one, and his experience in England camps past may be the reason Tuchel views him as a potential stop-gap before naming younger central midfielders in his stead.
In this regard, it’s a blow for Atletico Madrid’s Conor Gallagher – who scored against Real Madrid this week – and Palace’s Wharton, a surprise call-up himself for Euro 2024.
England squad in full
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Southampton), James Trafford (Burnley)
Defenders: Dan Burn (Newcastle United), Levi Colwill (Chelsea), Marc Guehi (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)
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