Thomas Tuchel has recalled Trent Alexander-Arnold and Cole Palmer for his first England squad since the World Cup, declaring that “the door is always open” while making clear that a place in the camp is not the same as a place in the team. Both players return for four Nations League matches during an extended international break that begins after this weekend’s club fixtures.
The pair had been left out of England’s squad for the summer tournament in North America, a decision that drew considerable scrutiny at the time. Alexander-Arnold, the Real Madrid right-back, has 34 caps and won the most recent of them as a substitute in a 1-0 win against Andorra in June 2025. He has started three of his five appearances for Real Madrid this season and registered one assist. Palmer, the Chelsea forward, last played for England in a 1-0 friendly defeat by Japan in March, and has scored four goals with two assists in six games this term.
Tuchel pointed to that club form as the reason for the call-ups, rather than any admission of error over the summer. “They had a good start to the season,” said the head coach, who has again omitted Manchester City’s Phil Foden. “They never did something wrong. We just chose different players. So now it is a new competition. Some players, some positions, have more injuries. Some have less injuries.” On Palmer specifically, he added: “Cole has his starts that he always had but he has his numbers back – he has his assists back, he has decisive goals back – so that is why he is in the squad. I think he has a point to prove, and the same goes for Trent. He was never off the list. He was never non-selectable for us, and it is his chance to show, come to camp and be the best version of himself.”
Alexander-Arnold’s role was a point of interest in itself. He played in midfield in Real Madrid’s Champions League win over Inter Milan earlier this month, but Tuchel said he had selected the former Liverpool man as a full-back. “He had a good start in two positions for Real Madrid and he comes as a right-back for us,” he said, before addressing the challenge facing the 27-year-old: “Perform, that’s just what it is. It is a competition and I understand the question because he was not with us at the World Cup. We trusted other players. I still stick with this decision and it is now time to fight for his place. He always said he is up for a fight, he always said he is up to fight for his place – especially for England – so it is on him to prove and he is more than welcome in camp.”
That standard, Tuchel stressed, applies across his squad. “It is one thing to be nominated, like with Cole, and getting your ticket back in the squad but it’s another thing to perform for England,” he said. “Cole needs to step up when he comes and he needs to show these kind of numbers to get his place, keep his shirt and justify the nomination.”
England host World Cup winners Spain at Wembley on Saturday, 26 September, then travel to the Czech Republic on Tuesday, 29 September and to Croatia on Saturday, 3 October, before the Czechs visit on Tuesday, 6 October. Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott and Liverpool winger Rio Ngumoha, both part of the pre-World Cup squad, feature again, as does Dominic Calvert-Lewin, whose three top-flight goals this season have helped Leeds United move up to third in the Premier League. Newcastle United left-back Lewis Hall, Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite, Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly and Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele are also included. Dean Henderson, Jordan Henderson, Reece James, Djed Spence and John Stones all miss out through injury, while Foden is joined among the notable absentees by Morgan Gibbs-White, Adam Wharton and Harry Maguire.