Cole Palmer has been a revelation for Chelsea this season, delivering four goals and two assists in just six appearances. His chemistry with England colleagues Morgan Rogers and João Pedro has been a delight to watch, prompting Thomas Tuchel to remark at a press conference, "Cole has his numbers back – assists, decisive goals.
He clearly has something to prove." After being omitted from the World Cup squad, Palmer’s exclusion may have actually benefitted him; an injury‑plagued previous season left him looking a shadow of his former self, but a rested and refreshed Palmer now appears to be returning to his best form. The big question for England’s manager is how to best utilise Palmer moving forward.
At the World Cup, Jude Bellingham cemented himself as the No.10, shining for Real Madrid and becoming one of the tournament's standout performers. Meanwhile, Bukayo Saka has recovered from injury and is firing for Arsenal on the right flank, and Anthony Gordon has been impressive for Barcelona after impressing England during the summer. Finding a way to combine the two Chelsea attackers – Palmer and Rogers – will be a fascinating puzzle for Tuchel, who now has an abundance of attacking talent at his disposal. Kobbie Mainoo’s inclusion is noteworthy.
He was the only outfield player who did not feature at all during England’s World Cup campaign, and Tuchel has pledged that this time the Manchester United midfielder will see minutes. "I expect him to be on the pitch and it’s my duty to get him there," the England boss said, taking responsibility for the previous omission. Mainoo impressed in training, but faced stiff competition from the likes of Reece James, Elliot Anderson, and Declan Rice. The three‑week camp, which includes four matches, should give the young midfielder a chance to prove his worth.
Trent Alexander‑Arnold’s selection marks a dramatic shift in Tuchel’s philosophy. The former Liverpool right‑back, now a Real Madrid player, had previously been deemed unsuitable for Tuchel’s system and was left out of the World Cup squad despite injuries to other options. When asked why the 27‑year‑old was now back, Tuchel responded, "He was never non‑selectable.
Now is his chance to come to camp and be the best version of himself. He comes as a right‑back for us." Alexander‑Arnold’s contributions this season include an assist from five appearances and a midfield cameo in the Champions League win over Inter Milan, highlighting the ongoing debate about how best to harness his technical gifts while addressing defensive concerns.
He now competes with Denzel Dumfries for the right‑back spot at Real Madrid, and his future role with England will be closely watched. Tuchel has also been vocal about England’s "DNA" after the loss to Argentina, suggesting the team struggled to retain possession under pressure, unlike sides such as Spain.
The return of technically gifted players like Palmer and Alexander‑Arnold appears to be an acknowledgement that England needs more ball‑retention ability. Yet, Tuchel also hinted at a different approach, urging his squad to "embrace the chaos" and play to their natural strengths, much like the fluid, high‑scoring games seen in the Premier League.
He said, "Football is about adapting to situations, and sometimes a little chaos brings out the best in a team." Morgan Gibbs‑White, who scored 15 Premier League goals and added four assists for Nottingham Forest last season, was omitted, leaving him understandably frustrated. He faces intense competition for the No.10 role from Palmer, Bellingham, Rogers and Eberechi Eze. Tuchel explained that selecting three, four or five players for the same position makes no sense, and praised Gibbs‑White’s form but felt the numbers didn’t add up. The midfielder must continue to push and be ready if Palmer fails to deliver.
Phil Foden also finds himself on the outside, having missed the World Cup squad despite a strong start to the season that was interrupted by a red card in the Manchester derby. With a deep pool of talent in England’s midfield, Foden must now battle for a place against younger prospects and technical players that Tuchel seems eager to integrate. The latest England camp shows a clear pivot toward youth. Veteran figures such as Jordan Henderson, Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins were omitted, making room for under‑23 talents like Myles Lewis‑Skelly, Alex Scott and 18‑year‑old Rio Ngumoha.
Ngumoha, despite not yet recording a goal contribution this season, has featured in five of Liverpool’s six league games and impressed enough to earn a call‑up. Lewis‑Skelly has shone for Arsenal, providing two assists from a deep‑lying midfield role and keeping Bruno Guimarães out of the starting XI. Alex Scott, a key player in Bournemouth’s historic qualification for European competition, attracted interest from top clubs and earned a spot in the squad thanks to his consistent performances.
Tuchel praised the three young players – Scott, Ngumoha and Josh King – for their character, reliability and curiosity on the pitch, noting that they added quality and courage to the group. Whether these selections signal a long‑term tactical shift remains to be seen, but the inclusion of fresh faces suggests Tuchel is willing to experiment.
The final squad list includes: 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) England’s upcoming fixtures are set for September 26 against Spain (home), September 29 versus the Czech Republic (away), October 3 against Croatia (away) and October 6 versus the Czech Republic again (home). The squad’s blend of experienced internationals and emerging talents will be tested as Tuchel seeks to balance control with the chaos he now appears ready to embrace.