Thomas Tuchel has summoned Trent Alexander‑Arnold and Cole Palmer back into the England set‑up as the Three Lions prepare for a series of Nations League fixtures. The Real Madrid right‑back makes his first appearance in an England squad since June 2025, while the Chelsea attacker, who was a notable omission from the World Cup roster, also earns a recall. Tuchel’s 27‑man roster for the three‑week training camp features eight new faces compared with the World Cup group, and the team will face Spain, Croatia and the Czech Republic in four matches. Among the fresh additions is Liverpool’s 18‑year‑old winger Rio Nguhoma, who impressed during England’s pre‑World Cup friendlies, and uncapped Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott.
Everton centre‑back Jarrad Branthwaite receives his first call‑up under Tuchel, and other returning names include Lewis Hall, Dominic Calvert‑Lewin and Myles Lewis‑Skelly. Notably, Phil Foden, Morgan Gibbs‑White and Adam Wharton are again omitted, while World Cup regulars Ollie Watkins, Ivan Toney and Noni Madueke have been left out of the squad.
Injury concerns keep a number of established internationals on the sidelines: Reece James, John Stones, Djed Spence, Dan Burn, Jordan Henderson, Ben White and Dean Henderson are all unavailable. Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo is retained despite not featuring during the World Cup campaign.
The full list of selections is as follows: 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 Nguhoma (Liverpool), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Morgan Rogers (Chelsea), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) The high‑profile players missing out are highlighted in bold in the original announcement: Phil Foden, Morgan Gibbs‑White, Harry Maguire, Adam Wharton, Ivan Toney, Noni Madueke, Ollie Watkins, Jordan Henderson, Djed Spence, Reece James, Dan Burn, John Stones and Dean Henderson. When questioned about the recalls, Tuchel explained that both Alexander‑Arnold and Palmer had started the season strongly and had not done anything to merit exclusion. “Cole has regained his numbers – assists, decisive goals – and he has something to prove,” Tuchel said. “The same applies to Trent.
He was never non‑selectable; this is his chance to come to camp and show the best version of himself. He will be used as a right‑back, and he must perform. It’s a competition, and we trusted other players at the World Cup. Now he must fight for his place.” Sky Sports analyst Kaveh Solhekol noted that Tuchel appears to be learning from the mistakes of the summer, making extensive changes to the squad.
He described the new group as “more balanced” and suggested that Tuchel remains under scrutiny for his World Cup decisions, particularly the controversial choices against Argentina. Peter Smith of Sky Sports added that Alexander‑Arnold’s inclusion should not be surprising given his move to Real Madrid, but it marks a significant shift in Tuchel’s philosophy.
The German coach had previously dismissed the Liverpool star as not fitting his ideal right‑back profile, even when injuries opened a potential slot. Smith highlighted that Alexander‑Arnold’s recent performances – one assist in five league games and a midfield cameo in the Champions League win over Inter Milan – have not fully convinced the manager, yet his technical prowess and long‑range passing remain valuable assets.
Real Madrid manager José Mourinho has experimented with Alexander‑Arnold in central midfield due to squad injuries, praising his work rate while pointing out occasional lapses in possession and the physical demands of the role. This season, Alexander‑Arnold competes with both Dani Carvajal and the summer signing Denzel Dumfries for the right‑back position at Madrid, adding another layer of competition that could benefit his development.
The upcoming Nations League schedule is as follows: Spain (home) on Saturday 26 September at 19:45, the Czech Republic (away) on Tuesday 29 September at 19:45, Croatia (away) on Saturday 3 October at 17:00, and a return fixture against the Czech Republic (home) on Tuesday 6 October at 19:45. Fans have expressed mixed reactions.
One commentator questioned whether Tuchel’s assessment of Palmer and Alexander‑Arnold’s form truly reflects a change in quality, suggesting the coach may be admitting a mis‑judgment in his World Cup selections. Others praised the return of Alexander‑Arnold for his exceptional crossing ability, while some remain cautious about the defensive stability of the back line.
Overall, the revamped squad signals Tuchel’s intent to blend youth, form, and experience as England seeks to improve on its third‑place finish at the summer tournament and to make a strong showing in the Nations League.