Tuchel Faces England Squad Dilemmas Over Palmer and Mainoo Ahead of November Nations League
Thomas Tuchel will announce his England squad for November’s Nations League fixtures on Friday morning, facing critical selection dilemmas regarding Cole Palmer and Kobbie Mainoo. The Three Lions host Croatia at Wembley before travelling to Spain, with Tuchel tasked with balancing recent form against long-term squad stability.
Palmer’s outstanding form for Chelsea suggests he should be a shoo-in for England’s final international squad of 2026. However, the central question remains whether Tuchel has lost patience with the 24-year-old after a series of absences and withdrawals.
Palmer was hugely disappointed when overlooked for the summer World Cup following a stop-start season plagued by injury. He subsequently withdrew from the last England camp in September and October due to a minor fitness issue, adding to his absence record.
The midfielder has been unavailable for selection due to injury three times since Tuchel took over in January 2025. He has also withdrawn from two further squads after being named, playing only three times for his country under the German coach’s tenure.
Despite these setbacks, Palmer is currently one of the most in-form forwards in the Premier League. Eight goal involvements in 11 matches testify to his current output, although Morgan Rogers and Jude Bellingham hold superior statistical records.
Rogers has had a hand in 10 goals, while Bellingham has contributed to nine, placing them ahead of Palmer in the current domestic metrics. If Palmer is left out, it would serve as a pointed statement from the England boss, raising serious doubts about his international future.
When pressed on whether Palmer seems desperate to play for England, Tuchel responded: “It’s hard to argue against what you’re saying. I can only judge him on what he is delivering for the national team and he’s just missing too many opportunities.
Tuchel viewed the last international camp as a real success, citing a narrow home defeat against world champions Spain followed by three straight victories. This included a 7-0 mauling of Croatia in Rijeka, demonstrating the squad’s potential when fully fit and focused.
On several occasions when the squad has performed well, Tuchel has rewarded those players by sticking with a broadly similar group in the next camp. If he repeats this strategy, Palmer may miss out, forcing other number 10s to give up their places to accommodate him.
Bellingham and Rogers are guaranteed selections, leaving Eberechi Eze and Morgan Gibbs-White as the most vulnerable options. Eze has had a stop-start month with Arsenal, while Gibbs-White benefitted from Palmer’s previous withdrawal.
Similar to Palmer, Kobbie Mainoo’s England future feels like it is on a knife-edge right now. The Manchester United midfielder was the only outfield player not to get a minute of football during England’s World Cup campaign.
Tuchel promised to make amends in the Nations League games this autumn, only for Mainoo to withdraw from the squad before it even met up with an unspecified injury. The 21-year-old’s absence has left his status with the senior team uncertain heading into the November window.
Will Tuchel persevere and try again to call up Mainoo, or has the coach moved on to focus on James Garner? Garner replaced Mainoo in a late call-up last time, establishing himself as a reliable alternative in the midfield.
There could also be a surprise call-up for Everton team-mate Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who has been backed by David Moyes for an international chance. Dewsbury-Hall’s biggest problem may be that he has been used predominantly as a number 10 by Moyes, a position where England are blessed with options.
The debate around Trent Alexander-Arnold’s England place is to the fore once again, largely because Tuchel’s right-back injury problems have eased. Reece James remains absent and is expected to be missing until the New Year, opening the door for other contenders.
Djed Spence is likely to be recalled after starting the last two matches for Inter Milan. He was one of the stars of the World Cup but failed to prove his fitness for England’s last round of matches, leaving his status in doubt.
With Ben White also pushing for a recall after returning to action with Arsenal, Alexander-Arnold faces stiff competition for his place. To leave the captain out once more would be hugely controversial, given his leadership role and recent form.
Harry Kane is sure to get top billing this time round, as he returns to England for the first time since winning the Ballon d’Or. Expect some special tributes from the FA at Wembley for the opening Nations League game against Croatia next Thursday.
If Kane plays in that game, he will become England’s most capped player of all time, outdoing Peter Shilton’s record of 125 caps. This milestone adds significant weight to his presence in the squad, regardless of other selection debates.
With question marks over who could ever replace him as England’s main goal-getter, there is a clamour for the leading goalscorer in English football to be given a chance. However, Lankshear’s 13 goals for Middlesbrough are unmatched across the four divisions, yet he is likely to remain with England’s U21s for now.
Elsewhere, a question mark looms at right-wing in the absence of the injured Bukayo Saka. His Arsenal team-mate Noni Madueke, who missed out on the last camp, is likely to deputise for his country, as he has been doing for his club.
An assist and three goals, the latest following an impressive run and finish in Prague in the Champions League, should be enough to see Madueke recalled. His recent performances have made him a strong candidate for a return to the senior setup.
The veteran Jordan Henderson is also expected to win his England place back, now that he is playing regularly for Chelsea. He has recovered from the bizarre broken arm he suffered during England’s celebrations after their victory over Mexico at the Azteca Stadium four months ago.
Dan Burn is likely to be back in an England shirt this month, since returning to form for Newcastle after an extended spell on the sidelines. His availability provides Tuchel with additional defensive depth for the upcoming fixtures.
Tuchel praised Chelsea’s Levi Colwill last month and said he was close to being selected; his involvement this time can’t be ruled out. He is pushing Jarred Branthwaite hard for a spot in the squad, adding to the competitive tension in defence.
Whilst John Stone is close to a comeback for Inter, this international break has probably come a fortnight too soon for him. The centre-back’s return to full fitness may need to wait for a future window, leaving the defensive line without his immediate presence.
The announcement will be followed by analysis of the selections and what England boss Tuchel has to say in his press conference.
England are second in Group A3 and only require a point against Croatia to guarantee a place in the quarter-finals. The stakes are high as the team looks to secure their progression in the competition.
