Cole Palmer has burst onto the scene at the start of this campaign for Chelsea, delivering a dazzling display of form that has been hard to ignore. In just six appearances he has found the net four times and supplied two assists, while his interplay with fellow England internationals Morgan Rogers and João Pedro has been a joy to watch. Thomas Tuchel highlighted this resurgence in his press conference, noting, "Cole has his numbers back – assists, decisive goals.
He clearly has something to prove." Palmer’s recall to the national side was almost inevitable after England left him out of the World Cup roster. The omission may have actually benefitted him; a lingering injury and the after‑effects of last summer’s Club World Cup had left him a shadow of his former self.
Rested and rejuvenated, he now appears to be back near his peak. The big question for Tuchel is how to employ Palmer moving forward.
At the World Cup, Jude Bellingham cemented the No. 10 role, dazzling as Real Madrid’s midfield maestro and emerging as one of the tournament’s standout performers. Meanwhile, Bukayo Saka has returned to full fitness and is firing on all cylinders for Arsenal on the right flank, and Anthony Gordon has thrived on the left wing for Barcelona after impressing England during the summer. Rogers has also been a key figure in Tuchel’s plans, and finding a way to combine the two Chelsea attackers on the pitch will be an intriguing tactical puzzle for the England boss, who now has a wealth of attacking talent at his disposal.
Kobbie Mainoo’s inclusion is noteworthy because he was the only outfield player who did not see a minute during England’s World Cup campaign. Tuchel has promised that the Manchester United youngster will have a different fate this time around, emphasizing that he expects Mainoo to feature and that it is his own responsibility to get him onto the field.
"He behaved impeccably in training and the competition for midfield spots was fierce – we also had Reece James and Elliot Anderson in the mix, with Declan Rice offering a unique skill set. It was my call, and I take full responsibility for his lack of minutes at the World Cup," Tuchel explained.
The midfield battle remains intense, but Mainoo is clearly part of Tuchel’s long‑term vision, and the three‑week training camp with four matches should provide ample opportunity for him to prove his worth. Perhaps the most surprising name on the list is Trent Alexander‑Arnold, now a Real Madrid player.
This selection marks a dramatic reversal of Tuchel’s earlier stance; the German coach had previously insisted that Alexander‑Arnold did not fit the profile of the right‑back he wanted and had consistently left the former Liverpool star out, even when an injury to Tino Livramento created a potential opening before the World Cup. When asked why the 27‑year‑old was finally given a chance, Tuchel replied, "He was never non‑selectable. Now is his opportunity to come to camp, be the best version of himself, and play as a right‑back for us." Alexander‑Arnold’s contributions this season include one assist in five league outings, and his brief spell in midfield during Real Madrid’s Champions League win over Inter Milan highlighted the ongoing dilemma managers face in extracting his full potential.
Real Madrid’s manager, Jose Mourinho, once deployed Alexander‑Arnold in central midfield due to injuries, praising his work ethic but also noting his tendency to lose possession and the physical demands of the role. Last season he battled Dani Carvajal for the right‑back spot; this season he now contends with new signing Denzel Dumfries. While his technical ability on the ball remains elite, defensive concerns linger, and how Tuchel integrates him will be a storyline to watch throughout the international break.
Tuchel has also been vocal about England’s "DNA" after the defeat to Argentina, arguing that the squad struggled to retain possession under pressure, unlike a team such as Spain. The return of technically gifted players like Palmer and Alexander‑Arnold suggests an acknowledgment that England may have been missing some of its most creative assets. Yet, in his latest press conference, Tuchel hinted that perhaps the solution lies in embracing a bit of chaos.
"The more I think about the Argentina loss, the more I realise we need to lean into our strengths – the way we played in the second half against Croatia and the first half against France. The Premier League reflects that style.
Football is about adapting, and sometimes a little disorder can bring out the best in a team," he said. "We will tweak our approach, but the players' strengths will always come first." Morgan Gibbs‑White may feel aggrieved at being left out. The 26‑year‑old enjoyed a prolific season with Nottingham Forest, scoring 15 Premier League goals and providing four assists, and he has continued that form into the new term. However, the competition for the No.
10 jersey is fierce, with Bellingham, Rogers and Eberechi Eze already in the mix. Tuchel argued that selecting three, four or five players for the same role makes no tactical sense. Eze’s inclusion over Gibbs‑White raises eyebrows, as the Arsenal midfielder has yet to start a Premier League match this season and has contributed roughly half as many goal involvements as Gibbs‑White did last term.
Still, the latter must stay ready and seize any chance if Palmer fails to deliver. Phil Foden finds himself in a similar predicament. The Manchester City star was omitted from Tuchel’s World Cup squad and, after a promising start to the season, saw his momentum halted by a red card in the recent Manchester derby.
With England’s midfield already brimming with options, Foden now faces a steep climb to win back the coach’s confidence, especially as Tuchel appears to favour other technically inclined players such as Alexander‑Arnold. The latest squad also signals a shift away from veteran regulars. Players like Jordan Henderson, Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins have been left out, opening doors for a wave of younger talent. Among them are Myles Lewis‑Skelly, Alex Scott and the 18‑year‑old Rio Ngumoha of Liverpool, who, despite not yet registering a goal contribution this season, has featured in five of Liverpool’s six opening games and impressed enough to earn a call‑up.
Lewis‑Skelly has shone for Arsenal, providing two assists from a deep‑lying midfield position and keeping summer signing Bruno Guimarães on the bench. Alex Scott, a key figure in Bournemouth’s historic qualification for European competition, has attracted interest from top clubs such as Chelsea and Manchester United after a standout 2025/26 campaign.
Tuchel praised the trio’s character and courage during the pre‑World Cup camp, noting that they displayed quality, reliability and a willingness to explore new ideas on the pitch. Whether Tuchel will overhaul England’s tactical approach remains to be seen, but his first post‑World Cup selection clearly demonstrates a willingness to blend experience with fresh faces.
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Jason Steele (Brighton & Hove Albion), James Trafford (Leeds United). Defenders: Trent Alexander‑Arnold (Real Madrid), Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton), Trevoh Chalobah (Como), Marc Guéhi (Manchester City), Lewis Hall (Newcastle United), Ezri Konsa (Arsenal), Tino Livramento (Newcastle United), Nico O'Reilly (Manchester City), Jarrell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen). Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Manchester City), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Myles Lewis‑Skelly (Arsenal), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Alex Scott (AFC Bournemouth).
Forwards: Dominic Calvert‑Lewin (Leeds United), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Anthony Gordon (Barcelona), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Rio Ngumoha (Liverpool), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Morgan Rogers (Chelsea), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal). Upcoming fixtures: Saturday 26 September – Spain (home) 7.45 pm; Tuesday 29 September – Czech Republic (away) 7.45 pm; Saturday 3 October – Croatia (away) 5.00 pm; Tuesday 6 October – Czech Republic (home) 7.45 pm.