MARCUS RASHFORD
Marcus Rashford rejoins the England team under Thomas Tuchel; the 26-man roster also includes Jordan Henderson, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Dan Burn, and Morgan Rogers; England’s first World Cup 2026 Qualifiers matchups are against Albania and Latvia at Wembley.
Thomas Tuchel revealed his first England squad as manager for the World Cup Qualifiers in March, recalling Marcus Rashford.
Rashford has had a challenging season; he has not played for Manchester United since December 12 after being fired by head coach Ruben Amorim in December.
England fixtures | World Cup 2026 European qualifying: Fixtures and full schedule
He joined Aston Villa on loan in January, and since then, his performances have significantly improved. Since then, he has contributed four assists, including one against Club Brugge on Wednesday that propelled the team into the Champions League quarterfinals.
After making his final appearance for the Three Lions in March of last year as a substitute against Brazil at Wembley, he has now been rewarded with a return to the England lineup.
Jordan Henderson has also returned to the team, giving Tuchel additional experience. The midfielder for Ajax last played against Australia in October 2023.
Elsewhere, At Wembley this month, Myles Lewis-Skelly will make his debut as a senior player in matches against Latvia and Albania. Although he played for England at lower junior levels, the Arsenal midfielder, who can also play left-back, never received a U21 cap.
Dan Burn, a defender for Newcastle who has never played for England at any level, has also been included, and Morgan Rogers of Aston Villa, who made his senior debut in November, has been picked again.
Only Harry Kane and Dominic Solanke, two established strikers, are part of Tuchel’s 26-man roster. Ollie Watkins, a forward for Aston Villa, has no place.
Howe: Burn is the most deserved person.
Eddie Howe, head coach of Newcastle, on Dan Burn’s call-up:
Amazing moment for Dan. Nobody is more deserving. He is a gifted musician and a truly inspirational person.
“He is made a true football comeback, but he did it the hard way. He is so dedicated to his work that he is the model pro.
“He has made great strides in many aspects of his game, and his height and size make him an excellent weapon on a football field. I am quite happy for him because his character is so balanced and stable.”
Analysis: Tuchel desires first squad experience
“After being banished by Manchester United and England, Rashford is back in Tuchel’s starting lineup for England. It is a huge moment for Myles Lewis-Skelly, the teenager who was called up to the senior squad.
Additionally, Jordan Henderson is making a comeback. Many people in this nation have forgotten about him, but Tuchel has visited Ajax to see him and is obviously impressed. incredibly fascinating.
“We have discussed Tuchel’s desire to win the World Cup. Is he interested in bringing in young players for the future? Probably not, as that may not fall under his purview.
“He has chosen Henderson as the old guard, and Kyle Walker is back in the squad after playing well for AC Milan.
“We also have four goalkeepers in: James Trafford, who is the backbone of Burnley’s clean sheet machine [in the Championship], Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale, and Dean Henderson.
“Never in my experience have I witnessed an England manager select four goalkeepers. Perhaps he is not sure who he wants to be the number two pick.
“Dan Burn gets his shot while Harry Maguire is out with an injury. Trent Alexander-Arnold is now injured, but Reece James also makes a comeback. He was at Chelsea, so he knows him well.
“We questioned if Liam Delap would have a chance, but Dominic Solanke does.
The absence of Jack Grealish is one of the intriguing exclusions. We completely anticipated Ollie Watkins to be in this squad, but he isn’t.
Many surprises can be found in this team. How do we interpret that? Tuchel wants this England team to have some experience.
England squad in full
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Southampton), James Trafford (Burnley).
Defenders: Dan Burn (Newcastle United), Levi Colwill (Chelsea), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Reece James (Chelsea), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), Tino Livramento (Newcastle United), Jarell Quansah (Liverpool), Kyle Walker (AC Milan, loan from Manchester City).
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), Jordan Henderson (Ajax), Curtis Jones (Liverpool), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa).
Forwards: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Marcus Rashford (Aston Villa, loan from Manchester United), Dominic Solanke (Tottenham Hotspur).
