Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White and two other players have missed out on England’s first matchday squad under Thomas Tuchel. The Three Lions begin their World Cup qualifying campaign on Friday at home to Albania.
A sold-out Wembley crowd will see Tuchel lead England out for the first time, having signed an 18-month contract worth £7.5million. The German was appointmented in October but didn’t officially start his role until January.
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That allowed interim boss Lee Carsley to oversee the conclusion of last autumn’s Nations League campaign. But Tuchel’s reign will finally kick-off against an Albania side who went toe-to-toe with the likes of Spain, Italy and Croatia at Euro 2024.
Tuchel called up 26 players for the home double-header against Albania and Latvia, but UEFA only allow managers to select 23 players in their matchday squad (11 starters and 12 substitutes). Gibbs-White, Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale and Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah – who remains uncapped – are the unfortunate three to miss out.
Harry Kane will captain the side. Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice are also expected to start.
Gibbs-White was called up by Tuchel after Chelsea’s Cole Palmer withdrew because of injury. “Obviously I was upset,” the Forest midfielder, 25, told BBC Radio 5 Live. “Yeah, a little bit disappointed. But when he told me, I respected his decision. The standard of players is top-level.
“I said to him back like âI feel like Iâve done enough to get the call-up, considering the form level that we were in, but obviously you’re the manager, you make the decisions, and I respect that totallyâ. So, obviously, it was disappointing but then Sunday I got the call, so I was straight here.”
He added: “It was about 4 or 5 o’clock. He sent me a message to say, ‘Are you free to talk?’ And I think I replied within like 30 seconds. He phoned me up and said, ‘Are you still upset with me, or do you want to come and join us and fancy training tomorrow?’
“Obviously, there’s no question there. I said I’d obviously love to come and join and train with the boys, so, yeah, found out Sunday late afternoon and I was just smiling from ear to ear.”
How should England line up against Albania? Give us your XI in the comments section.
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), James Trafford (Burnley)
Defenders: Dan Burn (Newcastle), Levi Colwill (Chelsea), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Reece James (Chelsea), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), Tino Livramento (Newcastle), Kyle Walker (AC Milan, loan from Manchester City)
Midfielders:Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), Jordan Henderson (Ajax), Curtis Jones (Liverpool), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)
Forwards:Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Marcus Rashford (Aston Villa, loan from Manchester United), Dominic Solanke (Tottenham)
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