Tuchel Reintroduces Foden and Bellingham to England Squad for World Cup Qualifiers

Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham have been recalled to Thomas Tuchel’s latest England squad, which also sees Bournemouth’s Alex Scott included for the first time.

On Friday, Tuchel announced a 25-man squad in preparation for World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Albania later this month.

Reports from ESPN on Thursday indicated that Real Madrid’s Bellingham is set to return after being omitted from last month’s international fixtures. Foden, meanwhile, is included for the first time since March, following an impressive resurgence in form with Manchester City.

“We are delighted to have them back,” Tuchel commented on the duo. “Their recent contributions to their clubs have been immense. They both play regularly and have significant roles in the successes of Real Madrid and Manchester City, consistently scoring crucial goals. We are thrilled they are in form and back with us.”

In a news conference, Tuchel revealed that Bellingham had “accepted” his omission from the October camp but refrained from disclosing specifics of their private discussion regarding the decision. He praised the 22-year-old for his remarkable response on the pitch in recent weeks.

“He has shown amazing reactions in his performances,” Tuchel noted. “There’s a lot happening, and we are always here to help and support him. It’s essential to provide a stable environment for him to showcase his abilities and contribute to our team’s success.”

Regarding Foden, Tuchel expressed his vision for the City player’s role. “I believe the key for him is to take on a position in the center of the pitch. I no longer see him as a winger; a central role will best highlight his strengths.”

In a surprise move, Tuchel also called up Bournemouth midfielder Scott. The Cherries have had a strong start to the Premier League season, and Scott’s selection recognizes his talent, having been capped 11 times at the under-21 level for England.

The squad features only one recognized striker, captain Harry Kane, as Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa has been left out. However, Marcus Rashford, currently on loan at Barcelona from Manchester United, could play centrally if needed, alongside West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen.

Despite engaging in positive discussions with Ben White regarding his return, Tuchel decided against including Arsenal’s defender, who had previously declared himself unavailable for international duty during Gareth Southgate’s last tenure.

Tuchel also noted that Myles Lewis-Skelly’s position could be at risk due to his lack of regular game-time, resulting in his exclusion in favor of City’s Nico O’Reilly, who joined the squad last month due to injuries.

Additionally, despite a commendable performance for Brighton, Tuchel opted not to include Danny Welbeck, who has not represented England for seven years.

Anthony Gordon was included despite concerns over recent injury issues at Newcastle. In an earlier press conference, Eddie Howe expressed confidence regarding Gordon’s availability for international duty, although the winger is set to undergo a scan for a hip issue that forced him off in the first half of Newcastle’s Champions League victory against Athletic Club.

Tuchel reassured that there would be no unnecessary risks taken with the player’s fitness. “We are closely coordinated with the Newcastle medical staff and will prioritize his health. We have confidence he will join the camp, and we are committed to ensuring he is well taken care of.”

Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton returns to the squad after missing the previous month due to injury.

With England already securing a spot in next summer’s World Cup finals, Tuchel has the opportunity to experiment with the lineup in the final fixtures of 2025 before a four-month hiatus until their next matches in March.

**Goalkeepers:** Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Nick Pope (Newcastle United)

**Defenders:** Dan Burn (Newcastle United), Marc Guéhi (Crystal Palace), Reece James (Chelsea), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Djed Spence (Tottenham Hotspur), John Stones (Manchester City)

**Midfielders:** Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa), Alex Scott (AFC Bournemouth), Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace)

**Forwards:** Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona, on loan from Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)