Jordan Henderson makes a surprising return to the England squad under new manager Thomas Tuchel, alongside Marcus Rashford and first-time call-ups for Myles Lewis-Skelly and Dan Burn. Key absentees include Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jack Grealish due to injuries and form issues, respectively. The squad prepares for World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia.
Jordan Henderson has received an unexpected recall to the England squad as new manager Thomas Tuchel unveils his selection. Alongside Henderson, Marcus Rashford also returns after a strong loan stint at Aston Villa. Notably, Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly and Newcastle’s Dan Burn have earned their first calls up, enhancing England’s defensive options.
Injuries have reshaped the squad, with Trent Alexander-Arnold absent due to an ankle injury sustained during a match against Paris Saint-Germain. Jack Grealish is also omitted, as he has struggled to secure a consistent starting position at Manchester City, allowing Eberechi Eze and Morgan Rogers to be included instead.
Henderson’s inclusion stands out, reflecting Tuchel’s appreciation for his experience and leadership amid a thin central midfield. Previously left out of Gareth Southgate’s squad for Euro 2024, the 34-year-old midfielder had returned to Europe with Ajax after a brief stint at Al Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia, where he played for six months.
The England squad will face Albania on March 21 for Tuchel’s debut match, followed by a game against Latvia three days later. The full squad for the March World Cup qualifiers is as follows:
– Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Southampton), James Trafford (Burnley)
– Defenders: Dan Burn (Newcastle United), Levi Colwill (Chelsea), Marc Guéhi (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).
In summary, Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad features unexpected call-ups, particularly for Jordan Henderson and Marcus Rashford. With injuries sidelining key players like Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jack Grealish, new talent like Myles Lewis-Skelly and Dan Burn step in. Henderson’s experience could be crucial for the upcoming matches as England prepares for its World Cup qualifiers.
Original Source: www.independent.co.uk
