Liam Delap, Josh King, Trent Alexander-Arnold? Six writers pick their England squad for the Nations League

Two months on from their agonising World Cup semi-final defeat by Argentina, England are back.

On Friday morning Thomas Tuchel is expected to name a 26 or 27-man squad for the four Nations League games against Spain (September 26), Czech Republic (September 29 and October 6) and Croatia (October 3).

Will Tuchel freshen up his squad with young in-form players like Josh King? Will there be room for Saudi-based strikers Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney? And will Trent Alexander-Arnold and Cole Palmer earn a recall?

We asked six of our writers to pick who they think deserves a call-up…

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‘No room for Burn, Henderson and Mainoo — but Scott and Gibbs-White must return’

Jack Pitt-Brooke: The biggest issue for Tuchel is how he finds the balance between building on the achievements of this summer or starting again with a clean slate. I think he will definitely want to refresh the group with some new blood so I have not called up a few players who went to the World Cup.

Dan Burn and Jordan Henderson have not got the call this time, but I would always be open to bringing Henderson back in. While Kobbie Mainoo, who Tuchel did not seem to have a clear plan for, has not either. Nor has Marcus Rashford, but I have kept faith with Noni Madueke, even though he struggled at times to make an impression at the World Cup. I have not selected Watkins after his move to Saudi Arabia, nor Toney.

In terms of new players I have brought back Myles Lewis-Skelly, who was perhaps unfortunate to miss the World Cup, as a reward for his form for Arsenal. He can be an option at left-back or in central midfield. Another option at left-back is Lewis Hall, who is playing well for Newcastle United and would have provided England with some more natural width in the summer. Carl Rushworth comes in as third keeper with Dean Henderson injured.

Alex Scott is a must-pick in midfield after performances which have shown why all the big Premier League clubs want to sign him from Bournemouth. Adam Wharton and Morgan Gibbs-White, both of whom might have made a difference in the U.S., are also in.

In the front line I have brought back Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who is starting to fire for Leeds United, and Jarrod Bowen, who is performing heroics with West Ham United in the Championship.

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), James Trafford (Leeds United), Carl Rushworth (Coventry City)

Defenders: Ezri Konsa (Arsenal), Marc Guehi (Manchester City), Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton), Trevoh Chalobah (Como), Reece James (Chelsea), Lewis Hall (Newcastle United), Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen)

Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Manchester City), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Chelsea), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Alex Scott (Bournemouth), Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace), Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest), Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal),

Forwards: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Anthony Gordon (Barcelona), Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Noni Madueke (Arsenal), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds United)

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‘Alex Scott has played as well as anyone across the first four Premier League matches’

Stuart James: Rightly or wrongly, form has played a significant part in my thinking here, which explains why there’s a place in the squad for players such as Josh King, Calvert-Lewin and Scott. King has been excellent in a struggling Fulham team, constantly making runs in behind and creating opportunities.

Calvert-Lewin, with three Premier League goals and an assist to his name, deserves another chance to show that he can be Kane’s deputy. As for Scott, he’s played as well as anyone across the first four Premier League matches.

I haven’t found room in midfield for Wharton, which troubles me because I’m a huge fan. Brilliant in the first half against Manchester City, he’s not quite been himself since. James Garner played for England in March against Uruguay — and played very well, too. Impressive against Tottenham Hotspur last Saturday, he can also operate at right back.

On the subject of form, there’s an argument that the Ipswich left-back Leif Davis should be called up, especially as Djed Spence is injured. Davis has been really good this season but I opted for Newcastle’s Hall instead. John Stones would be in but for fitness concerns — he’s not played 90 minutes for Inter yet. In Stones’ absence, I turned to Jarrad Branthwaite, who as a left-footer also offers balance.

Henderson’s injury created a problem in the goalkeeping department. Who’s next in line for England? Rushworth has huge potential and is clearly a big talent, but I’m not sure my form argument stacks up here.

On the flip side to that, Bowen is scoring and assisting regularly for West Ham, which is why he makes the cut, even if the sight of a Championship player in the squad will probably send some people into a tailspin.

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), James Trafford (Leeds United), Carl Rushworth (Coventry City)

Defenders: Marc Guehi (Manchester City), Ezri Konsa (Arsenal), Reece James (Chelsea), Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City), Lewis Hall (Newcastle United), Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton), Ben White (Arsenal)

Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Manchester City), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Alex Scott (Bournemouth), Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), James Garner (Everton), Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Josh King (Fulham)

Forwards: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Anthony Gordon (Barcelona), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United), Morgan Rogers (Chelsea)

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‘The two most surprising names on my list are Jarrad Branthwaite and Liam Delap’

Oliver Kay: This is very similar to the squad I would have proposed for the World Cup… and, as such, very different to the squad Tuchel picked.

Did Tuchel get it right in the summer? I didn’t think so. With Alexander-Arnold, Wharton, Palmer and Phil Foden all left out, the squad was high on work rate but low on technical quality. What transpired was a tournament in which England’s limitations were frequently (not always) on display as they clung on for dear life against Mexico, Norway and, fatefully, Argentina.

In a nutshell, I prefer Alexander-Arnold to Spence at right back. I prefer Hall and Lewis-Skelly to Spence at left back. I prefer Branthwaite and Levi Colwill to Dan Burn and Trevoh Chalobah at centre back. I prefer Wharton and Scott to Henderson in midfield. I prefer Palmer and Foden to Eberechi Eze in that attacking midfield or wide role.

That’s not to say I don’t like those other players (or James Garner, Noni Madueke, Morgan Gibbs-White and others I couldn’t quite find room for here), but it felt as if Tuchel was overly focused on players who he felt would be happy to make up the numbers. The rationale was understandable, but it left a real deficit in terms of quality.

The two most surprising names on my list are Branthwaite and Delap. Branthwaite’s one and only cap to date came in 2024, under Gareth Southgate, but he has made an excellent start to the season at Everton. Calling up Delap might seem like a knee-jerk reaction to one goal for Nottingham Forest (after scoring just once in the Premier League for Chelsea last season) but he is perhaps the best long-term candidate to take over from Harry Kane, and he is no longer eligible for the under-21s, so why not give him the opportunity to learn from the England captain?

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), James Trafford (Leeds United)

Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Real Madrid), Reece James (Chelsea), Ezri Konsa (Arsenal), Marc Guehi (Manchester City), Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton), Levi Colwill (Chelsea), Lewis Hall (Newcastle United), Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City)

Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Manchester City), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Alex Scott (Bournemouth), Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal)

Forwards: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Morgan Rogers (Chelsea), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Liam Delap (Nottingham Forest), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)

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‘Will Lankshear is a punt but his form for Middlesbrough deserves a closer look’

Nick Miller: Wrongs should be righted from the World Cup squad, so that means places for Hall, Gibbs-White and Scott. The omission of Palmer was justified based on his form last season, but not this term.

Goalkeepers are a bit thin on the ground: the obvious first two are Jordan Pickford and James Trafford, and with Henderson injured, the next on the list in theory (read: literally the only other starting English keeper in the Premier League) should be Rushworth. But it feels odd to pick someone who’s conceded 13 goals in four games, so why not give a youngster a go? James Beadle has, by all accounts, been superb for Birmingham City and has been the under-21s’ No 1 for some time, so give him some senior experience.

Right-back has suddenly become a problem position, as evidenced by the jumble sale who played there during the World Cup. Reece James is the outstanding option, but he’s a midfielder for Chelsea these days. Alexander-Arnold should be the next option, but he’s never really played well for England so it feels like a line should be drawn under that one. Spence is injured and therefore, now is the time to try and persuade Ben White that he should return to the international fold. Elsewhere in defence, Davis has been extremely impressive for Ipswich and thus deserves a nod.

The midfield broadly picks itself, with only King as a vaguely rogue selection, but he’s been so good for Fulham that it’s not that left-field.

Up top, we must confront the horrifying reality that Harry Kane won’t be around forever, so some succession planning must be done. Calvert-Lewin is not necessarily a long-term solution, but he’s been so good for Leeds that he demands inclusion. Delap might be the man in the future, but let’s not get too giddy about one goal for Forest yet.

Will Lankshear is a punt, considering he has only scored goals in the Championship and League Cup, but eight in 10 so far for Middlesbrough suggests there’s a gem to be polished, so why not start polishing now?

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), James Trafford (Leeds United), James Beadle (Birmingham City, on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion)

Defenders: Reece James (Chelsea), Ben White (Arsenal), Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City), Lewis Hall (Newcastle United), Leif Davis (Ipswich Town), Ezri Konsa (Arsenal), Marc Guehi (Manchester City), Levi Colwill (Chelsea), Trevoh Chalobah (Como)

Midfielders: Declan Rice (Arsenal), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), Josh King (Fulham), Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest), Elliot Anderson (Manchester City), Alex Scott (Bournemouth).

Forwards: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Anthony Gordon (Barcelona), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds United), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Morgan Rogers (Chelsea), Will Lankshear (Middlesbrough).

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‘Gibbs-White and Calvert-Lewin have continued to impress and are difficult to ignore’

Rob Tanner: It may have been their best World Cup since the solitary victory in 1966 but England were left with a sense of what might have been after their exploits in the United States and Mexico.

Tuchel’s first squad since the summer is a chance to build on what the group have achieved so far, but it is also an opportunity for him to have a look at some other options moving forward.

Whether he considers early season form a serious factor or not remains to be seen, but some candidates have made strong starts to the campaign, most notably Ipswich left-back Davis, Fulham’s King and Bournemouth’s Scott. The latter two were already on Tuchel’s radar having been invited to train with the squad in the U.S. before the tournament. It might be time to have a closer look now.

Gibbs-White has continued to impress at Nottingham Forest after his omission in the summer. He will be difficult to ignore. As will Leeds striker Calvert-Lewin, another who was left behind.

If form isn’t a major issue, then Tuchel is likely to stick with Arsenal’s Eze, who hasn’t pulled up too many trees so far this season, although he hasn’t had too many opportunities to.

Right-back was a major issue for Tuchel, and his decision to leave out Alexander-Arnold was exposed during the tournament. He was constantly having to patch up the right side of his back four. Reintegrating Alexander-Arnold might be the wisest idea, although including Arsenal duo White and new team-mate Ezri Konsa also strengthens his options.

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), James Trafford (Leeds United), Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace)

Defenders: Reece James (Chelsea), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Real Madrid), Marc Guehi (Manchester City), Ezri Konsa (Arsenal), Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton), Ben White (Arsenal), Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City), Leif Davis (Ipswich Town)

Midfielders: Declan Rice (Arsenal), Elliot Anderson (Manchester City), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Morgan Rogers (Chelsea), Josh King (Fulham), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Alex Scott (Bournemouth), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest)

Forwards: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Anthony Gordon (Barcelona), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)

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‘Adam Wharton and Myles Lewis-Skelly are well ahead of Jordan Henderson’

Max Mathews: Tuchel and the ‘Reflections’ World Cup review will not admit this, but the England squad for the summer tournament was shown to be unbalanced and with muddled priorities.

Skilful, technical players were set aside for perceived physical dominators and players who it was felt would not upset the apple cart.

This squad hopefully offers a balance of fresh blood, an element of continuity, along with the swagger and confidence of selected form picks.

With Pickford’s usual deputy Henderson injured, it is an opportunity to blood an up-and-coming goalkeeper. That could be Manchester City prospect Oliver Whatmuff, 18, impressing on loan at high-flying Stockport County in League One.

In defence, it’s time to move on from Stones, 32, and Burn, 34. With Chalobah and Jarell Quansah not setting the world alight in Italy and Germany respectively, natural left-footers Hall, Colwill and Branthwaite deserve recalls.

Alexander-Arnold is too talented to leave out; Chelsea’s Josh Acheampong, 20, could contend in the future.

In midfield, Gibbs-White replaces an off-colour and seemingly out-of-favour Eze at No 10, with Wharton and Lewis-Skelly gifted playmakers and well ahead of a certain 36-year-old Chelsea substitute/cheerleader (Henderson).

Palmer offers far more than an inconsistent Madueke, while King is in contention for the next squad if his fine form for Fulham continues. Rio Ngumoha, 18, and Max Dowman, 16, offer significant medium-to-long-term promise too.

Up front, Calvert-Lewin merits inclusion over Saudi Pro League duo Watkins and Toney given the stark difference in quality compared to the Premier League.

As a future wildcard option at striker… keep an eye on Middlesbrough’s Will Lankshear, 21, who has eight goals in 10 appearances for the Championship side after moving from Tottenham this summer.

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), James Trafford (Leeds), Oliver Whatmuff (Stockport County, on loan from Manchester City)

Defenders: Reece James (Chelsea), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Real Madrid), Marc Guehi (Manchester City), Ezri Konsa (Arsenal), Levi Colwill (Chelsea), Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton), Lewis Hall (Newcastle), Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City)

Midfielders: Declan Rice (Arsenal), Elliot Anderson (Manchester City), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace), Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest), Alex Scott (Bournemouth)

Forwards: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Morgan Rogers (Chelsea), Anthony Gordon (Barcelona), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)