The ex-Chelsea manager is spoilt for choice as he mulls over who to select for upcoming qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia
The Premier League season has barely begun, but there has already been incredible drama and intriguing storylines developing, from the never-ending troubles of Manchester United to the simmering rivalry between Newcastle and Liverpool. And there have been no shortage of impressive performances, including those from familiar faces who had stepped out of the limelight and from names that had barely been mentioned just a few months ago.
And it means that Thomas Tuchel is utterly spoilt for choice when it comes to naming his squad for England's upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia. The Three Lions might be top of their group with maximum points from their three games, but they are yet to catch fire under their new coach, who still has a lot of work to do to convince fans and pundits after three underwhelming wins and a hugely embarrassing friendly defeat to Senegal in their last outing.
With many of the more experienced players struggling to convince, now is an ideal time for Tuchel to bring in some new blood to freshen up his squad, and GOAL has picked out eight players who should get their first call-up from the German. Some of them are seasoned England players deserving of another chance, while others have never even been considered for a senior debut, but all of them should be occupying the coach's mind as he prepares to unveil his squad list on Friday:
Getty Images SportAdam Wharton
Adam Wharton was unexpectedly called up by Gareth Southgate for Euro 2024, and although he didn't play a single minute at the tournament, his prolonged absence from the senior squad since then has been a big surprise. Interim boss Lee Carlsey overlooked Wharton for his six matches in charge and Tuchel has also left him out of his first two squads.
The England coach clearly rates the Crystal Palace midfielder as Tuchel asked Wharton to train with the senior squad in March while he was stationed at St George's Park with the Under-21s. However, he left him out again in May as Tuchel claimed that Wharton was instead going to go to the U21 Euros, while he had also been concussed in the FA Cup final, but Wharton did not go to the tournament in Slovakia in the end, causing much head scratching.
And there will be more confusion if Wharton is not selected this time around because he has continued to perform at the highest level for Palace, attracting the attention of Real Madrid and Manchester City in the proces.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportElliot Anderson
Elliot Anderson is another player who many expected to be included in Tuchel's last squad, only for him to stay with the U21s. That move turned out well for everyone as the Nottingham Forest midfielder played a starring role for Carsley's side in their run to glory in Slovakia and was named in the Team of the Tournament. But now the time has surely come for Anderson to make the step up.
The ex-Newcastle man was one of the most consistent players for Forest last season, impressing in no less than three roles, from holding midfield, to left midfield to No.10 while Morgan Gibbs-White was out injured. Jude Bellingham's injury absence has opened up a spot in midfield and it would be a huge surprise if Anderson did not fill it.
Getty Images SportJack Grealish
Jack Grealish has 39 England caps but was understandably not called up by Tuchel in March or May as he was barely featuring for Manchester City at the time. But now that Grealish has started a fresh chapter of his career with Everton and made a flying start to his loan spell, he has made a convincing case for a recall.
Tuchel values experienced players who have seen and done it at international level, hence why he brought Jordan Henderson and Marcus Rashford back into the fold after being dropped by Gareth Southgate. Grealish has got his hunger back as well as his smile, and in his first Premier League start with the Toffees he provided as many assists as in his previous two seasons with City combined.
The last time Grealish played with such freedom and excitement was for England, scoring twice in his last three appearances for the Three Lions under Carsley, and he deserves another chance to prove himself in a World Cup year.
Getty Images SportCallum Hudson-Odoi
Bukayo Saka's injury and the likely absence of Cole Palmer has freed up two vacancies for wide forwards in the upcoming squad, and Callum Hudson-Odoi is best placed to take one of them after making a strong start to the season following consistent performances for Nottingham Forest last season and in the early weeks of 2025-26. The winger made history for England in 2019 when he became his country's youngest competitive debutant (Bellingham has since surpassed him), but has not been called up to a squad in the last six years.
Tuchel knows Hudson-Odoi well from his time at Chelsea, although they had a mixed relationship, as the coach gave Hudson-Odoi a good run of games when he first took over, only to criticise his attitude after substituting him at Southampton when he had only appeared from the bench 31 minutes earlier.
The German also questioned the Hudson-Odoi's decision to refuse to play for England's U21s before sanctioning his loan move to Bayer Leverkusen, but more than enough time has passed and the Forest man's form over the last year should speak for itself.