The latest England squad for the upcoming friendly against Wales and the crucial 2026 World Cup qualifier against Latvia has been announced — and it comes with some notable omissions and returns.
Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham, who recently returned from surgery on a persistent shoulder injury, has been left out of the squad. Although Bellingham has gained valuable minutes in La Liga and the Champions League, England manager Thomas Tuchel has opted not to risk rushing him back into international duty just yet.
Good news for England fans as Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka has made his way back into the squad following his own spell on the sidelines. The talented attacker adds vital creativity and pace to the team’s frontline, which is still searching for a cutting edge despite an impressive run of five wins from five in World Cup qualifying.
Everton forward Jack Grealish remains absent from the national setup, continuing his extended period out of international contention under Tuchel.
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), James Trafford (Manchester City)
Defenders: Dan Burn (Newcastle United), Marc Guéhi (Crystal Palace), Reece James (Chelsea), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Djed Spence (Tottenham Hotspur), John Stones (Manchester City)
Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (AC Milan), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)
Forwards: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona, loan from Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)
With Bellingham still on the sidelines and Grealish out of favour, Tuchel is banking on a mix of youth and experience to maintain England’s perfect start to World Cup qualifying. The matches against Wales and Latvia will be crucial tests as the Three Lions aim to secure early qualification for the 2026 tournament.
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