Thomas Tuchel has handed Trent Alexander-Arnold and Cole Palmer recalls to the England squad ahead of a busy Nations League camp, while Phil Foden was again left out in the cold.
The head coach named a 27-player group for the three-week international break, which features four fixtures against Spain, Czech Republic (twice) and Croatia. The announcement comes roughly nine weeks after England returned from the World Cup with a bronze medal following their semi-final defeat to Argentina.
Alexander-Arnold returns to the fold for the first time since June 2025, having started the season well at Real Madrid. Palmer also comes back into contention after missing out on the World Cup squad entirely. Tuchel explained his reasoning behind recalling the Chelsea forward, saying: "He's a regular starter. He decides matches, he has his numbers back. Everyone up front at least starts regularly for their clubs or produces minutes and is in good shape."
On Alexander-Arnold, Tuchel added: "It's an opportunity for Trent, of course. He had a good start to the season, I would say. He started some matches for Real Madrid. They have good results and it's a chance for him to claim what he feels is his, his place on the right side, so here we go. It's a long camp, four matches and we're happy to have him back."
Liverpool teenager Rio Ngumoha, who impressed on his senior debut against New Zealand in June, and uncapped Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott both earn call-ups after being part of the pre-tournament training group in Florida last summer. Jarrod Branthwaite receives his first call-up under Tuchel since his solitary cap in June 2024, while Lewis Hall, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Dominic Calvert-Lewin also return to the set-up.
Tuchel praised Lewis-Skelly's rise at Arsenal, saying: "Myles ended last season on a very high level for Arsenal, started the Champions League final and is at the moment defending his place in a highly competitive environment so happy for him. He will come back in midfield." Regarding Hall, he noted the Newcastle full-back "takes advantage of Djed Spence's injury and gets the space."
There was no place for Foden, Morgan Gibbs-White or Adam Wharton, while World Cup squad members Ollie Watkins, Ivan Toney and Noni Madueke were also dropped. Spence, John Stones, Dan Burn, Jordan Henderson and Dean Henderson all missed out through injury, and Reece James, though not reported injured, was absent too.
Arsenal defender Ben White and Fulham's Josh King both narrowly missed selection. Tuchel revealed White withdrew through injury, adding: "He had a fantastic start with Arsenal to the season and was back to his very best... but he was unfortunately not available for the World Cup and is not available now." On King, who trained with the squad in the United States over the summer alongside Scott and Ngumoha, Tuchel said the Fulham forward "was very, very close but in the end it felt like we keep the squad tight," with Palmer and Jude Bellingham preferred in the number 10 role.
Asked whether the door remains open for those overlooked, Tuchel insisted: "The door is always open, yeah, 100%... first and foremost through performance and then on the same level through behaviour and commitment to the team spirit."
The full squad: Goalkeepers - Jordan Pickford, James Trafford, Jason Steele. Defenders - Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jarrod Branthwaite, Trevoh Chalobah, Marc Guehi, Lewis Hall, Ezri Konsa, Tino Livramento, Nico O'Reilly, Jarell Quansah. Midfielders - Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Kobbie Mainoo, Cole Palmer, Declan Rice, Alex Scott. Forwards - Harry Kane, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Eberechi Eze, Anthony Gordon, Rio Ngumoha, Marcus Rashford, Morgan Rogers, Bukayo Saka.
Based on reporting from The Guardian and Standard Football.