Thomas Tuchel has named Marcus Rashford in his first England squad, marking a significant turnaround in the forward’s career. After struggling for form at Manchester United, Rashford’s loan move to Aston Villa in the winter transfer window has seemingly revived his international prospects. Although he has not scored and has only started once in the Premier League, his four assists in all competitions have been enough to convince Tuchel of his value.
Jordan Henderson also returns to the squad, having last played for England in November 2023. Now at Ajax, Henderson’s recall comes after a turbulent period that saw him move to Saudi Arabia in 2023 before securing a transfer to the Dutch club in January 2024. His presence offers experience in the midfield as England prepare for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia.
There are first-time call-ups for Dan Burn and Myles Lewis-Skelly, while Jarell Quansah also earns a place in the squad. Additionally, Reece James and Kyle Walker are included, along with Rashford’s Aston Villa teammates Morgan Rogers and Ezri Konsa. These selections suggest Tuchel is keen to explore new options while maintaining a core of experienced players.
Several notable names are missing from the squad. Jack Grealish, Rico Lewis, Ollie Watkins, Conor Gallagher, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Angel Gomes have all been left out. Adam Wharton, who has been working his way back to fitness following a groin injury, also misses out, while Ben White, despite making his first start in four months this week, remains excluded. Jarrad Branthwaite is another notable absentee.
Rashford’s selection is particularly striking given his struggles over the past year. He last played for England in a 1-0 friendly defeat against Brazil in March 2024, where he featured as a late substitute and failed to make an impact. His form last season at Manchester United had sharply declined under Erik ten Hag, a stark contrast to his prolific 2022-23 campaign when he scored 30 goals across all competitions.
At the start of the current season, Rashford’s situation at United deteriorated further under new manager Ruben Amorim, who frequently questioned his attitude. At one point, Amorim went as far as to say he would prefer to name goalkeeping coach Jorge Vital as a substitute rather than include Rashford in the squad. His loan move to Aston Villa, however, has provided a fresh start, and Tuchel appears willing to give him another chance at international level.
Henderson’s return is another surprising decision. Once a mainstay in the England midfield, his move to Saudi Arabia in 2023 led to a swift decline in his international standing. His subsequent switch to Ajax in early 2024 was not enough to earn him a recall under former manager Gareth Southgate, but Tuchel has opted to bring the veteran midfielder back into the fold.
With England set to face Albania next Friday and Latvia the following Monday in their opening two World Cup qualifiers, Tuchel has also called up four goalkeepers. His initial longlist consisted of 55 players, but injuries have forced several omissions. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Bukayo Saka, Kobbie Mainoo, Harry Maguire, John Stones, Noni Madueke, Lewis Hall, and Luke Shaw are all unavailable due to injury. Ethan Nwaneri, meanwhile, remains with the under-21 squad.
Tuchel’s selections indicate a blend of experience and fresh talent as England begin their journey toward the World Cup. His decisions, particularly the recalls of Rashford and Henderson, suggest he values players with past international experience while remaining open to giving new faces an opportunity.
