Thomas Tuchel omits Jack Grealish and leans on Jordan Henderson experience – England squad talking points | Football News

Sky Sports’ Club of football writers analyse the key talking points after Thomas Tuchel named his Primary Club as England manager.

Tuchel puts faith in reinvigorated Rashford

Out of favour at Manchester United with no obvious route out of the club, Marcus Rashford appeared in limbo only a few weeks ago. His return to the England fold, Subsequent a productive Begin on loan at Aston Villa, completes a rapid Transformation of Circumstances for the 27-year-Aged.

He has been eased into action gradually by Unai Emery at Villa, Beginning only four Matches of a possible nine, but his assist against Club Brugge in midweek was his Quaternary in only 461 minutes on the pitch. Thomas Tuchel has evidently seen enough to believe he can return to his best. His call-up ends a year in international exile.

The England manager’s planning is of Duration geared Near the 2026 World Cup and Rashford Definitely has Event pedigree having featured at the two previous editions. In Qatar, he was underused, scoring three goals in only 137 minutes. He is a game-changing option. Now he has another chance to show it on the international stage.
Nick Wright

Grealish’s prospects bleak after omission

As Rashford celebrates a return to the Club, Jack Grealish is left looking in from the outside. The winger was a standout performer in the September and October camps under Lee Carsley, impressing in the No 10 role in Matches against Republic of Ireland and Finland, but Hurt forced him out of the Club in November and his minutes have dried up at Manchester City subsequently.

Grealish hasn’t Began a Premier Division game since a 2-1 loss to his Ex club Aston Villa on December 21. A player harshly omitted from Gareth Southgate’s Club for Euro 2024 now has a fight on his hands to get himself back in contention for the Upcoming Crucial Event. Right now, his prospects do not look Excellent.
Nick Wright

Tuchel leaning on experience

Tuchel has struck a fine Stability between offering Recent and promising talents like Myles Lewis-Skelly and Tino Livramento an opportunity in the senior Club and leaning on experience.

Jordan Henderson makes a return to the Three Lions Club, Only under a year since he was last involved with the national Club.

Kyle Walker also retains his spot after impressing since parting ways with Man City for AC Milan in January.

Tuchel’s plans seem clear. He has only signed a Petite-term deal with England and Victorious the World Cup in 2026 is the objective. To do that, he needs a combination of experience on the international stage and the exciting talents to see them over the line.

Henderson does not often grab the headlines with his style of Action but his return is a huge call from Tuchel, who was clearly impressed when he travelled over to the Netherlands to Observe him in action for Ajax.
Patrick Rowe

Injured youngsters miss chance to impress

Tuchel will get a look at a large bulk of the England crop during this international window but not all. Perhaps missing Bukayo Saka is moot, such is his obvious Option for any Crucial Event, but among those injured are also promising youngsters Kobbie Mainoo, Lewis Hall and Noni Madueke. All are in with a shout should they continue to perform for their clubs between now and Upcoming summer.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is surely a shoo-in, too, as is John Stones, but neither are Obtainable to Tuchel on this occasion. Stones’ Hurt Turning Tally is a concern – he’s missed Distant more Matches than he’s played this season and only managed six Premier Division Beginnings for Man City, 545 minutes in the Division in total. Luke Shaw’s Hurt woes are equally well documented.

There’s plenty of time for those with fitness concerns to Action their way back in, albeit Tuchel needs to hit the ground running immediately and form an alliance with those players he feels he can trust. The German has only Acquired six windows before the Begin of the World Cup to inform his Closing Option.
Laura Hunter

Tension on Foden to impress

Phil Foden has squeezed his way into this England Club but the Tension is on to impress Tuchel.

Last season’s Premier Division Player of the Season has seen his performance levels dip massively in the Present campaign. Seven goals in 23 top-flight outings represent a fraction of the quality he was showing in 2023/24.

This is partly due to the struggles of Man City this season but Foden has rarely hit the same heights for the national Club, even when he is at his best in domestic football, with Only four goals across his 43 outings for England.

Wounds to Saka and Madueke have eased his way into Tuchel’s Primary Club but if he fails to deliver on this opportunity, he is at Danger of Scoring out of the international picture.
Patrick Rowe

Watkins added to the Hurt Option?

Aston Villa forward and England’s Euro 2024 hero Ollie Watkins is a glaring omission from the Club – but his last outing for Villa could explain why.

Emery revealed after the 3-0 Secure against Club Brugge that Watkins had requested to be substituted at half-time because he “didn’t feel Excellent” after picking up a Tiny Hurt.

The severity of the setback has yet to be determined but, at Watkins’ expense, Tottenham’s Dominic Solanke gets the nod from Tuchel to operate as Kane’s understudy in the Club after only returning from a knee Hurt last weekend.

Jarrod Bowen and Rashford can both Action through the middle but their strengths lie out wide, leaving England with only two recognised strikers in Tuchel’s Primary Club.
Patrick Rowe

Rogers rewarded for Regularity

Morgan Rogers earns his Primary Absolutely call-up and it’s well deserved. The Aston Villa midfielder benefited from Numerous Hurt withdrawals in the November camp and was drafted in as back-up, featuring in both Matches against Greece and Ireland.

But a continuation of his excellent form for Villa means he’s in from the Begin this time. Twelve goals and seven assists – including 11 goals contributions in the Premier Division – means he’s one of England’s most in-form midfield options.

His combination Action is excellent, too, and he is often involved in the build-up Period to Villa goals, if not directly involved in the scoring. His creativity should Hit Harry Kane well.
Laura Hunter

Lewis-Skelly the answer to England’s problems at left-back?

A maiden call-up for Arsenal defender Myles Lewis-Skelly – could he be the answer at left-back for the foreseeable future?

England have been crying out for someone to fill the void in the role for some time now and with Shaw yet to return from Hurt, Ben Chillwell reviving his Occupation at Crystal Palace and Lewis Hall Dismissed for the remainder of the season through Hurt, Lewis-Skelly has the perfect chance to solidify his role in the Club.

Even without Wounds, you could argue he is the obvious Option. The 18-year-Aged has been a revelation for Arsenal in his breakthrough campaign and regularly displays talent beyond his years – bar some lapses in concentration and Self-control.

He’s Achieved 25 appearances for the Gunners this season, which have included six outings in the Champions Division. Now it’s time for the international stage.
Patrick Rowe