One final experiment? Unpicking Tuchel’s latest England squad

England head coach Thomas Tuchel’s decision to name an expanded 35-man squad for friendlies against Uruguay and Japan at Wembley has afforded him room to experiment before this summer’s World Cup.

It has meant a recall for forgotten men such as Manchester United’s Harry Maguire and Leeds United striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, with in-form Everton midfielder James Garner also winning his first call-up.

Calvert-Lewin’s England recall is testament to the striker’s self-belief and desire to emerge from the dark times of seasons when he struggled with injury.

When he spoke of renewed England ambitions after completing a free transfer from Everton to Leeds United in the summer, eyebrows were raised at both his optimism and whether Tuchel would ever seriously feel the need to call on him.

Now, Calvert-Lewin’s rejuvenation and continued fitness at Elland Road has prompted a return for the 29-year-old, who won 11 caps and made his last appearance in July 2021 when he played 17 minutes off the bench against Ukraine at the delayed Euros.

Calvert-Lewin deserves huge credit for his persistence – but his call-up also underscores a huge concern for England and Tuchel.

That worry is the massive drop-off in proven quality at international level should any misfortune befall England captain and record goalscorer Harry Kane.

Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins was long considered the deputy, scoring the winner in the Euro 2024 semi-final against the Netherlands, but his patchy club form means he is not even included in this squad.

Tottenham Hotspur’s Dominic Solanke is the other striker, making his way back this season after several months on the sidelines with an ankle problem.

Marcus Rashford could fill the role but is now used in the wider positions, while Anthony Gordon has played through the centre for Newcastle United without ever looking a neat fit.

This demonstrates the alternatives to Kane – aged 32 but still in magnificent form for Bayern Munich – are worryingly thin for Tuchel and England.

Tuchel surely signalled the end of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s World Cup hopes when he was excluded from England’s latest squad, even with 35 players named and resources at right-back stretched.

England’s head coach has long appeared to hold misgivings about the 27-year-old Real Madrid star’s defensive capabilities, as did predecessor Gareth Southgate, who ended up using Alexander-Arnold as a midfielder in a short-lived, failed experiment at Euro 2024.

The former Liverpool defender is slowly settling into life at the Bernabeu, but this has cut no ice with Tuchel.

Alexander-Arnold can surely only read one thing into being left out of the 35-man squad when likely first choice Reece James is injured once more, while Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier have retired.

Tuchel’s squad is also ominous for Watkins, a long-time member of the England set-up but dropped completely this time.

Manchester United’s Luke Shaw may also have a similar sinking feeling, while Manchester City defender John Stones is a more complicated case.

Tuchel’s inclusion of Manchester United’s Maguire is reward for the 33-year-old defender who has shown superb character and inner strength to emerge from a spell when he was a figure of mockery for some opposition fans – and indeed England supporters – when his Old Trafford career looked over.

Maguire turned down potential moves to clubs such as West Ham United, eventually reviving his form to such an extent that he has played a key role in Michael Carrick’s rejuvenation at Manchester United this season, fighting his way back into England contention.

He was left out of Southgate’s Euro 2024 squad and has yet to figure under Tuchel, winning the last of his 64 caps against the Republic of Ireland in September 2024.

Tuchel has an embarrassment of riches battling for the number 10 position behind Kane, the hub of England’s World Cup operation.

At the end of Euro 2024, it was unthinkable that Jude Bellingham’s starting place would be a subject of debate for the 2026 World Cup.

And yet such has been the excellence for club and country of Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers that he now poses a real threat to the Real Madrid superstar, who was portrayed as the key to England’s golden future.

He also has other options in that coveted position which he will get the opportunity to explore in these friendlies – the players’ last chances to give Tuchel food for thought.

Chelsea’s Cole Palmer has had a mixed season with form and injuries, but remains a stellar talent at his best.

He will still harbour hopes of at least making the World Cup squad – but will need to make a good impression if he gets an opportunity against Uruguay and Japan.

Phil Foden is listed among England’s attacking players, and has often been used wide on the left, but he will also be hoping to get a chance in his favoured more central role.

Tuchel’s decision to name this expanded squad, with rotation between the two friendlies, is a common-sense move designed to give him a longer look at his players in a camp setting.

Everton’s Garner is an eye-catching selection after the 25-year-old former Manchester United midfielder’s outstanding season so far.

A creator with an eye for goal, and also strong at set-pieces, Garner must be regarded as an outsider.

Tuchel, though, has been hugely impressed on several viewings and was seen locked in lengthy conversation with him after Everton’s win at Manchester United in November.

Brighton’s 35-year-old goalkeeper Jason Steele has not played in the Premier League this season, but appears to be auditioning for a different World Cup role, having been named “with the prospect of him joining the World Cup squad as a training goalkeeper during the summer”.

Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), James Trafford (Manchester City), Aaron Ramsdale (Newcastle United), Jason Steele (Brighton & Hove Albion)

Defenders: Dan Burn (Newcastle United), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Lewis Hall (Newcastle United), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Tino Livramento (Newcastle United), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Djed Spence (Tottenham Hotspur), John Stones (Manchester City), Fikayo Tomori (AC Milan)

Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), James Garner (Everton), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa), Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace)