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Injuries create uncertainty as Tuchel prepares to name England squad
England manager Thomas Tuchel watches on from the stands during the Premier League match at Craven Cottage, Fulham, September 5, 2026

THOMAS TUCHEL has injury issues to contend with as he prepares to name his England squad for a Nations League campaign that begins against world champions Spain.

Tuchel is set to announce his team for the new four-game, three-week autumn meet-up on Friday, before facing the media in a press conference at Wembley.

The German coach will be looking to build on his previous campaign, heading into a cycle that culminates with a home Euros in 2028.

Tomorrow will offer a glimpse at his thoughts as England begin without some high-profile players on their return to the Nations League top tier.

John Stones looks set to miss out having picked up a thigh injury at the weekend and Inter Milan team-mate Djed Spence and Premier League players Dan Burn and Jordan Henderson have not yet been fit to play this season.

High-profile absentees from Tuchel’s previous squad, including Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, Morgan Gibbs-White and Adam Wharton, are pushing for recalls.

Levi Colwill, a favourite of Tuchel, has a strong chance of being selected and Myles Lewis-Skelly, Lewis Hall and James Garner are pushing to be involved along with some up-and-coming prospects.

Teenager Rio Ngumoha impressed with a man-of-the-match debut in the summer, when fellow training squad member Alex Scott caught the eye despite not making his debut.

Josh King and Ethan Nwaneri have also worked with the group previously, with Tuchel recently saying he is “excited to have new young players that we can bring into the camp and they can learn.”

Uncapped Coventry shot-stopper Carl Rushworth is a logical contender as Dean Henderson deals with an ankle issue and Jason Steele could link up with the group again as the training goalkeeper.

Brighton team-mate Jack Hinshelwood is highly thought of by England staff but has been absent since the opening weekend with an ankle issue, while Arsenal defender Ben White has been having an injury assessed.

Trent Alexander-Arnold has not been called up since last June and Harry Maguire’s hopes of a recall appear faint.

Ollie Watkins followed Ivan Toney to Saudi Arabia in the summer and Tuchel needs to decide whether to keep the duo as back-up to Harry Kane, or turn to Dominic Calvert-Lewin or perhaps Liam Delap.

England welcome World Cup winners Spain to Wembley on September 26 before travelling to Prague to take on the Czech Republic three days later.

Croatia host Tuchel’s men behind closed doors in Rijeka on October 3, before the camp is rounded off at home to the Czechs on October 6.

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