No Trent, Grealish or Palmer? Big names missing from Tuchel’s England squad – and why
England manager Thomas Tuchel has unveiled his latest squad for the November 2025 international fixtures, confirming the recall of Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden while several high-profile players, including Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jack Grealish, were left out. The squad will face Serbia at Wembley on Thursday before travelling to Albania on Sunday, completing a World Cup qualifying campaign that has seen England concede no goals under Jordan Pickford.
Bellingham returns after being omitted from October’s squad, reigniting debates over his role in Tuchel’s plans ahead of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Everton midfielder Alex Scott has received his first senior call-up, while Myles Lewis-Skelly misses out in favour of Manchester City’s Nico O’Reilly.
Several key players are unavailable due to injury. Newcastle pair Anthony Gordon and Nick Pope will miss both fixtures, with Pope sidelined following a concussion in Newcastle’s recent defeat to Brentford. Crystal Palace captain Marc Guéhi is also a major doubt after sustaining a leg injury in Europa Conference League action.
Notable Omissions
Trent Alexander-Arnold: The right-back’s move to Real Madrid has seen limited minutes on the pitch, impacting his international prospects. His last appearance for England came off the bench in June’s 1-0 win over Andorra, and a challenging start in Spain has diminished his chances of making Tuchel’s World Cup squad.
Jack Grealish: Despite a strong start to the season with Everton, Grealish has yet to feature in a Tuchel squad. With one goal and four assists in the Premier League, his omission reflects the manager’s cautious approach towards integrating creative midfielders with inconsistent recent international form.
Anthony Gordon: Gordon has struggled domestically, scoring just once since January 2025, though he has performed well in the Champions League. A hip injury, however, rules him out of England’s November fixtures.
Nick Pope: Newcastle’s goalkeeper was withdrawn early against Brentford due to a concussion and will not travel with the squad. “As soon as we were made aware of that, he was withdrawn,” confirmed Newcastle manager Eddie Howe.
Myles Lewis-Skelly: The Arsenal left-back has seen limited playing time this season, allowing Nico O’Reilly to take precedence. Tuchel’s squad selection indicates he remains in England’s long-term plans, given limited options at left-back.
Marc Guéhi: The Crystal Palace captain faces a short-term absence after a Europa Conference League injury left him unable to walk, though Palace officials expect a return to training within two weeks.
Cole Palmer and Danny Welbeck: Palmer’s limited appearances this season and injury setbacks have delayed his inclusion, though he remains in consideration for the World Cup. Welbeck, 34, has impressed at Brighton but did not make the cut for this squad.
Squad Highlights
The November group sees Harry Kane as England’s only recognised striker after Ollie Watkins was omitted. Marcus Rashford and Jarrod Bowen also retain places, with Adam Wharton returning to the squad. Tuchel praised the recalled players, noting:
“We are delighted they are back. Their contributions to their clubs have been immense. They play regularly and play a big role in the success of Real Madrid and Manchester City. They’ve scored decisive goals consistently.”
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson, Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope*
Defenders: Dan Burn, Marc Guéhi*, Reece James, Ezri Konsa, Nico O’Reilly, Jarell Quansah, Djed Spence, John Stones
Midfielders: Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, Jordan Henderson, Declan Rice, Morgan Rogers, Alex Scott, Adam Wharton
Forwards: Jarrod Bowen, Eberechi Eze, Phil Foden, Anthony Gordon*, Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka
(*Has since pulled out or is a major doubt.)
The squad selection underlines Tuchel’s blend of youth and experience while managing injuries and fitness ahead of the World Cup, reflecting a measured approach to squad rotation and player development.