England: Thomas Tuchel uncapped XI options explored ahead of 2026 World Cup qualifiers – who would you pick? | Football News

Thomas Tuchel is set to name his first squad as England head coach on March 13 – and there could be some new names on the list.

Lee Carsley gave debuts to eight players during his six matches in interim charge after taking over from Gareth Southgate and it would be no surprise to see more new faces appearing to face Albania and Latvia in 2026 World Cup qualifiers this month.

Here we take a look at 11 of the players who might earn their first England cap under Tuchel and their reasons to be hopeful… Have your say if you’d agree with them with our polls!

James Trafford

Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford has not conceded a Championship goal since before Christmas, becoming the first goalkeeper in second-tier history to keep 12 successive clean sheets. Since he last conceded a league goal, Trafford has made 23 saves, including two penalties, and prevented over 10 expected goals.

Trafford is no stranger to the England set-up having been a hero of the 2023 UEFA U21 Championship-winning squad – he is now one of only three of the starting XI against Spain in that 2023 final yet to win a senior cap, along with James Garner and Max Aarons.

Djed Spence

Djed Spence’s first Premier League goal against Ipswich on February 22 was a long time coming, two-and-a-half years after joining Spurs in July 2022. Spence had to wait patiently for his chance, but since breaking into the team in December, he has been a mainstay, starting nine of 12 Premier League games, missing one through suspension, one due to a minor injury and coming on once as sub.

Spence – who has six caps for England U21 – might spy a potential opening at right-back for England with Kieran Trippier retired from international duty and Kyle Walker soon turning 35. With 10 of his 13 starts for Spurs at left-back, his versatility would also be a bonus for Tuchel.

Archie Gray

Archie Gray arrived in the Premier League in last summer with a reputation as one of England’s brightest midfield prospects. But Spurs’ injury issues have led to him being use predominantly at centre-back this season – 80 per cent of his minutes have come in that position. He is the only player currently aged 18 or younger to play over 1,000 minutes in the Premier League this season.

Turning 19 in the week before Tuchel’s first game, Gray has represented England at every level since U15 and is surely a senior international in waiting. His maturity and versatility might lead to a first full call-up at the earliest opportunity.

Dan Burn

The oldest player in this XI and the only one without experience for England at any level, 32-year-old Dan Burn is an outside bet for an international cap. But with left-footed English centre-backs few and far between and aerial prowess unmatched in the Premier League this season – even by Virgil Van Dijk – Burn may tick boxes for the incoming England boss.

The last player to make their England debut aged 32 or over was Kevin Davies in 2010, during a period in which an overseas manager in Fabio Capello was picking players regardless of age or club status. If Tuchel adopts a similar policy, Burn may yet receive his first call-up.

Myles Lewis-Skelly

Arsenal’s 18-year-old gem Myles Lewis-Skelly has had a breakout season he will never forget and must surely be in the thoughts of Tuchel as a potential left-back, undoubtedly England’s problem position in the last couple of years.

No recognised left-back has started more than two successive games for England since Luke Shaw at the 2022 World Cup but Lewis-Skelly, along with Newcastle’s Lewis Hall, look like they have the potential to solve that headache for Tuchel. Should he make his England debut in March, Lewis-Skelly would become his country’s second-youngest defender this century behind Micah Richards, who was also 18 when bursting on to the scene in 2006.

Elliot Anderson

Elliot Anderson has been an industrious presence in Nottingham Forest’s surprise push for a Champions League spot and will have one eye on a senior call-up having committed his international allegiance to England at the start of this season. Anderson is among a handful of players to combine high possession won (5.5 or more per 90) with high touches in the opposition box (2.5 or more per 90) in the Premier League this season and could be a useful box-to-box option in Tuchel’s midfield.

Anderson previously played for Scotland at youth level and was called up at senior level in August 2023 before withdrawing due to injury. Now the Whitley Bay-born midfielder has four caps for England U21 and will be keen to add a senior cap soon.

Jobe Bellingham

Despite being a teenager, Jobe Bellingham has been indispensable in Sunderland’s promotion push this season, not being subbed in any of his 31 Championship starts. Comparisons to his big brother Jude are inevitable, and, having made his 100th league appearance last Friday, Jobe boasts more goals and more completed matches than Jude at the same stage of their careers.

Should Jobe win his first cap alongside Jude, they would be only the third pair of brothers to play together for England since the start of the 20th century following the Charlton and Neville brothers. Meanwhile, no outfield player from the Championship player has been capped by England since Wilfried Zaha in November 2012.

Marcus Edwards

Marcus Edwards arrived at Burnley on deadline day to add some X-factor to the Clarets’ promotion push. He scored on his debut in the FA Cup against Southampton and again in his first Championship start against Sheffield Wednesday, continuing his habit of regularly clocking up goals and assists, as was the case during his successful spell in Portugal.

Edwards has a stellar record for England at youth level, winning almost 50 caps across the age groups and being part of the team the won the 2017 UEFA U19 Championship alongside Aaron Ramsdale, Mason Mount and Reece James. It is over six years since Edwards’ most recent youth cap but, having only just turned 26, time is still on his side.

Omari Hutchinson

Chelsea were one of the top pressing teams around during Tuchel’s spell in west London, ranking second in the Premier League for PPDA in his only full season in charge in 2022-23. Omari Hutchinson – part of Chelsea’s youth system when the new England boss was at Stamford Bridge – has been the Premier League’s top presser this season and Tuchel might see him as a good fit. Hutchinson has covered more distance in closing down opponents than any other player this season.

Having already played twice for Jamaica at senior level, Hutchinson may be one England are keen to tie down – he has returned to the Three Lions set-up this season, earning his first two caps at U21 level.

Keane Lewis-Potter

Versatility is always considered a major bonus during international tournaments, and Brentford’s Keane Lewis-Potter must be among the most versatile players in the Premier League. Having played mostly for the Bees as a left winger last season, he has played and impressed as a left-back this season, despite being right-footed. He has also played a fair amount on the right wing since joining Brentford from Hull in 2022.

Lewis-Potter’s only England experience came in the shape of four caps for the U21s in 2022 – he scored in his only start against Kosovo in June 2022, coming inside from the left wing to head home Harvey Elliott’s cross.

Liam Delap

Despite Ipswich’s struggles this season, Liam Delap has earned rave reviews in attack and is one of the youngest players ever to reach double figures for Premier League goals for a team that were promoted the season before. Each of the other five English players on the list below gained senior international recognition, and Delap will surely follow suit should he continue his goalscoring exploits at the highest level.

While his dad Rory earned 11 caps for Republic of Ireland during his playing days, Winchester-born Liam has scored goals for England at every youth level and looks a fair bet to become Harry Kane’s long-term successor as No 9 in the senior team.