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Alexander-Arnold and Palmer recalled in much-changed England squad
Real Madrid's Trent Alexander-Arnold during the Uefa Champions League round of sixteen, first leg match at the Bernabeu, Madrid, March 11, 2026

TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD and Cole Palmer made headline-grabbing England returns as Thomas Tuchel included Rio Ngumoha, Alex Scott and Jarrad Branthwaite in his first squad since the World Cup.

The German coach named a 27-man group today for the three-week, four-game Nations League camp, which comes just nine weeks after they returned home from the United States with bronze.

Alexander-Arnold and Palmer were the standout inclusions, with the former included for the first time since June 2025 as the latter returned having missed out on England’s World Cup squad.

Teenage winger Ngumoha and uncapped Scott are included having formed a part of the pre-tournament training group in Florida.

Branthwaite, whose only cap came in June 2024, received a first call-up under Tuchel, with Lewis Hall, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Dominic Calvert-Lewin also returning to the set-up.

Phil Foden, Morgan Gibbs-White and Adam Wharton were among those overlooked for recalls as Tuchel dropped World Cup squad members Ollie Watkins, Ivan Toney and Noni Madueke.

John Stones, Djed Spence, Dan Burn, Jordan Henderson and Dean Henderson missed out through injury, as presumably did the absent Reece James.

Brighton’s Jason Steele, who worked as training goalkeeper at the World Cup, was named in the squad.

Tuchel says there are some “major players” unavailable for England and with Ben White also out through injury, Alexander-Arnold has got this chance to impress.

“It’s an opportunity for Trent of course,” the England boss told the FA. “He had a good start to the season, I would say.

“He started some matches for Real Madrid. They have good results and it’s a chance for him to claim what he feels is yours, his place on the right side, so here we go.

“It’s a long camp, four matches and we’re happy to have him back.”

Tuchel says Palmer has been recalled having got “his numbers back” at Chelsea, while Ngumoha and Scott are brought in after impressing during the training camp.

“Alex Scott has maybe one of the best performances in midfield in the Premier League since the start with Bournemouth,” Tuchel said. “Individually he’s one of the outstanding midfielders so he clearly deserves to be with us.

“He took another step into the right direction. Very impressive and happy that he is on that route. Now he plays in Europe for Bournemouth and deserves to be with us.

“Rio was very impressive at this kind of age. He was explosive, he was adventurous, he was strong and one-on-ones like a true winger.

“He had good friendlies for us, in house and against New Zealand on both wings, so this is an opportunity for him to show that he can be a real alternative.

“We are very excited about his potential and about his natural courage and adventurous style of play.

“Josh King [another training group player] was very, very close. He is on our list. He’s had a good start with Fulham, scoring, assisting.”

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