Palmer and Alexander-Arnold return to Tuchel's England squad

Cole Palmer and Trent Alexander-Arnold have both been named in Thomas Tuchel's England squad for their upcoming Nations League matches, though Phil Foden has missed out.

Both Palmer and Alexander-Arnold missed out on England's World Cup squad this summer, with the Three Lions finishing third at the tournament.

It marked their best finish in the competition since winning the World Cup in 1966, though Tuchel came under fire for leaving out the likes of Palmer and Alexander-Arnold.

Alex Scott and Rio Ngumoha, who were both part of England's training group for their World Cup warm-up matches, have also been called up to the squad.

Jarrad Branthwaite has received a recall, earning his only previous cap in June 2024, while Kobbie Mainoo remains in the squad despite not playing a single minute at the World Cup.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin, whose three Premier League goals this season are only bettered by Erling Haaland (four), is also in the 27-man squad; he is the top scoring Englishman in the Premier League since the start of last season (17).

Notable absences include Foden, who was recently sent off for Manchester City against Manchester United, Morgan Gibbs-White and Adam Wharton, all of whom were also not in the World Cup squad.

Only Bruno Fernandes (seven goals, 15 assists) has been involved in more Premier League goals in 2026 than Gibbs-White (13 goals, five assists), with Gibbs-White the leading scorer this year.

Saudi Pro League striker Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins also miss out, while Dean Henderson, Ben White and Dan Burn are all sidelined with injury; Reece James is expected to have missed out for the same reason.

England's first game of their Nations League campaign comes at home against reigning World Cup and Euros champions Spain on September 26.

Tuchel's side will also face Czechia, first away and then at home, either side of a trip to Croatia.

Full England squad

Jordan Pickford (Everton), Jason Steele (Brighton), James Trafford (Leeds United); Trent Alexander-Arnold (Real Madrid), Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton), Trevoh Chalobah (Como), Marc Guehi (Manchester City), Lewis Hall (Newcastle), Ezri Konsa (Arsenal), Tino Livramento (Newcastle), Nico O'Reilly (Manchester City), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen); Elliot Anderson (Manchester City), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Alex Scott (Bournemouth); Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds United), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Anthony Gordon (Barcelona), Rio Ngumoha (Liverpool), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Morgan Rogers (Chelsea), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal).