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Thomas Tuchel names England squad with surprise omissions for Wales and Latvia games

Thomas Tuchel names his latest England squad with surprise omissions for the upcoming games against Wales and Latvia later this month.

He has has named a 24-man England squad for two upcoming matches, with Bukayo Saka returning after missing September’s matches due to injury, while Jarell Quansah is included, but Tino Livramento and Noni Madueke are absent due to injuries.

There is also no place for Phil Foden, Jack Grealish or Jude Bellingham.

The team will prepare at St. George’s Park starting Monday, with a chance to secure a World Cup spot depending on Group K results.

LATEST ENGLAND SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT:

Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), James Trafford (Manchester City)

Defenders: Dan Burn (Newcastle United), Marc Guéhi (Crystal Palace), Reece James (Chelsea), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Djed Spence (Tottenham Hotspur), John Stones (Manchester City)

Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (AC Milan), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)

Forwards: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona, loan from Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)

Rob Dorsett said to Sky Sports News: “It’s a really surprising squad that Thomas Tuchel has named. One that looks very similar, you have to say, to the one he selected last month. But there are some big names who are back available and some of them are not in there.

“Jude Bellingham, the man who’s just been named England’s player of the season for last season in an England shirt is not included in this squad, even though as far as we’re aware, he’s fit and available.

“Remember, he had that shoulder surgery which kept him out for several weeks, out for Real Madrid, missed out on the England squad in September, but he’s back playing and he’s not in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad.

“Now, we don’t know why. I cannot believe he’s been dropped. He’s England’s best player, England’s most important player. know, Thomas Tuchel has alluded to that himself.

“So I suspect there’s been some discussion with Real Madrid and with the player himself about the loading and how much game time he’s had since he’s come back from injury, but that needs an explanation when we hear from the England manager. Big headline, Jude Bellingham not included in this England squad.

“Saka is straight back in. He’s recovered from that hamstring problem. We expected him to go back in. He has. But another big headline for you, Phil Foden, who’s been outstanding for Manchester City this season.

“We thought and expected that he would be called back up into this squad, especially with Cole Palmer missing. No, Phil Foden is not in this squad either.

“Neither is Jack Grealish despite his good form for Everton. And that surprises a few people as well. If he’s not going to get in this squad with the way he’s playing right now, it looks a long road for him to get into the World Cup squad next summer, you have to say.

“Elliot Anderson, the standout player of the last international break, he keeps his place, but Adam Wharton misses out once again.

“It’s a squad of 24, as it was last month, but only three changes from that squad. Tino Livramento is out because of injury. Konsa comes in for him in this squad as he did in replacing him in injury in the last month’s Madueke of course is out. Saka comes in for him. Adam Wharton who was named in that last squad but hasn’t played under Thomas Tuchel yet. He’s out. Ruben Loftus-Cheek who was a late call-up keeps his place.

“So look I’ll run through the squad for you very very briefly. I’m afraid there is no Mitchell at left back. He’s sticking with the options he had there in the previous squad.

“Thomas Tuchel desperate to see John Stones in the England shirt because he hasn’t played for him so far and has to withdraw from the last camp because of injury.

“In the midfield, Elliot Anderson as we say, Morgan Gibbs-White keeps his place. Jordan Henderson, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Declan Rice and Morgan Rogers.

“And then in the forward department, Bowen, Eze, Anthony Gordon, Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, Saka and Ollie Watkins. So some real headlines there, but none bigger than Jude Bellingham missing out.”

Tuchel on why he opted to only make minor changes to his squad ahead of the next international camp: “Why not bring the same group in? They set the standard. 

“Now it is about creating habits but unfortunately, we have two injuries with Tino [Livramento] and Noni [Madueke].

“We bring Bukayo Saka to replace Noni and Jarell Quansah, who was a late call-up last time and he will stay in camp.”

On why he has picked similar squad to September: “We only made one change to the squad from last camp – Madueke is injured and Saka takes his place.

“Tino is also injured and out for this camp but we had Quansah with us as a kind of plus one because we were not sure about Stones and Tino in the last camp.

“The last camp is only three and a half weeks ago. Team work, team spirit was on the highest level. That’s why we decided to invite the same group into this camp, to make more stable what we started to build.

“Are there players out who deserve to be with us? For sure.

“Is there a way back into the team through performance? 100 per cent, for sure.

“But at the moment we think this is the best and most straightforward decision.

“It is a decision for this camp.

“Jack [Grealish] is in a very good moment. Phil [Foden] is in a very good moment. Adam Wharton deserves to be with us. Curtis Jones gets his minutes at Liverpool, Trevoh Chalobah plays.

“Cole Palmer is injured, a very special character and player who decides matches and can be a special player for us.

“This will always be like this – in any nomination we will have these cases that can be endlessly discussed and decided in any way.”

On the Bellingham decision: “First of all, Jude is a very special player. For special players, there can always be special rules.

“For this camp, we decided to invite the same team. That applies to Jude; he deserves to always be in camp.

“The situation is he has not gathered full rhythm. He hasn’t finished one full match and has only started one match.

“When he gets back to full strength, there is an extra layer to the decision.

“He wanted to be called up. We had a phone call but he just lacks rhythm. We stayed with our decision.

“Not an awkward conversation. It’s straightforward, explain your reasons and that is that.

“It is not awkward and it is necessary, it is part of the job. They are not the nicest ones, it’s always nicer to give good news, but is has to be done.

“The players have to accept it.”

Tuchel biting back at question on Bellingham’s importance:  “Do I believe we’re a stronger team with Jude? Yes. Is he one of the best players in the world in midfield? Yes.

“But what are we doing if a player like Jude is injured before the World Cup? Do we not travel? This is a team sport. We have to find solutions if players are injured, like now Cole Palmer.

“We found solutions in the last camp. This is more about the last camp and what we started to build than the dependency on individual players.

“It can never be the solution to depend on one player in football.”

Tuchel on reaching new standards in September: “It’s the World Cup year. We selected a lot of players in the first two camps. We reached new standards for ourselves in the last camp. It was clearly visible in the match in Serbia in the way we played and the way we won. So the question is why not pick the same squad, if they are available?

“They have to prove again. The pressure is on the guys who want to be in camp but also the ones selected. This is the chance they have.”

On improvement and needing to build on it: “Well we do now. It’s a change in our selection, it’s a World Cup year.

“We reached a new level and new standards in the last camp.

“It was clearly visible in the match against Serbia. Why not pick the same players and squad if they are available?

“They have to prove the point again. They set the standard and now they have to make sure the standards become more stable.

“This is the chance they have.

“Everyone wants to be here! Absolutely not. The players are very close and deserve to be here, they got a message from me and confirmed straight back.

“Everyone is desperate to be in the group. No one pulled out.”

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