The Three Lions Bring Back Bukayo Saka While Jude Bellingham, Foden & Jack Grealish Are Omitted
Bukayo Saka has scored 12 goals in 44 caps for England.
The national side have included the Arsenal winger for upcoming games versus Wales and Latvia, however no room for Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden or Jack Grealish.
Gunners attacker Saka was absent from last month's World Cup qualifying wins over Serbia and Andorra due to a hamstring injury.
Saka recently returned for Arsenal and scored in their victory over Olympiacos midweek.
Saka comes in for Arsenal team-mate Madueke, who is sidelined till next month with a knee injury.
The Three Lions meet Wales in a warm-up match at the national stadium this week prior to a qualifying match in Riga on October 14.
Should England triumph against Latvia, they will require a maximum of two more points from their final two matches against Serbia and Albania in November to qualify for the World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Bayer Leverkusen defender Quansah replaces Newcastle United’s Tino Livramento, who is out for up to eight weeks following suffering a knee issue against Arsenal recently.
Elliot Anderson and Spence, who received their first England call-ups last month, keep their spots. Ruben Loftus-Cheek also keeps his spot, even with the return to fitness of Wharton.
Saka has featured in just a single match for the manager since he became England manager, because of injury concerns.
Bellingham missed the previous squad as he recovered from shoulder surgery and has only made a single start for his club since returning to fitness.
The Manchester City player was left out from the coach’s previous selection following a dip in performance and has been unsuccessful in returning, despite a strong start to the season with City.
The forward also misses out despite a revival in form with Everton. The 30-year-old has not played for England since October 2024.
Full Three Lions Squad
Keepers: Henderson (Palace), Pickford (Everton), Trafford (City)
Backline: Burn (Newcastle United), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Reece James (Chelsea), Ezri Konsa (Villa), Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Spence (Spurs), Stones (City)
Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Forest), Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Loftus-Cheek (Milan), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Rogers (Aston Villa)
Attackers: Bowen (West Ham), Eze (Arsenal), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Kane (Bayern Munich), Rashford (Barca), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)
'Focus on omissions over inclusions'
The manager’s new selection brings scrutiny to the players the head coach has left out instead of the players he has selected.
Bellingham’s exclusion may cause surprise but the coach understandably feels there is no need to bring back the Real Madrid star.
City’s Foden and loanee Jack Grealish have both performed well in the early stages of the season.
Those who Tuchel utilised in England's qualifying victories against Andorra and Serbia merit the reward of continuity.
It will bring regret that the Gunners’ Noni Madueke is not included due to injury.
Anderson has settled well at England senior level.
The England boss is a admirer of the attacker, especially, and also the City star.
If there is one surprise, it comes in the absence of Crystal Palace midfielder Wharton.
The star, naturally, will be required further down the line.
