Categories
AFNewsNG Logo
Sports News Special Report

England squad: Jack Grealish, Jude Bellingham, Adam Wharton and Phil Foden all miss out on Thomas Tuchel's squad

AFNEWS reporter

Oct 03, 2025

England squad: Jack Grealish, Jude Bellingham, Adam Wharton and Phil Foden all miss out on Thomas Tuchel's squad
Thomas Tuchel has named his England squad for the friendly with Wales and World Cup qualifier in Latvia; high profile names left out but fit-again Bukayo Saka and John Stones included; Phil Foden, Jack Grealish still out despite impressive form with just three changes from September

READ ALSO: NDDC contracts: What Orji Uzor, Uduaghan said

Star names Jack Grealish, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden have all missed out on selection for England's October internationals with Thomas Tuchel handing another chance to the players who impressed him in September.

READ ALSO: Who has qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup? Who do England and Scotland play? Could Lionel Messi face Cristiano Ronaldo?

There is also no place for Adam Wharton in the squad to face Wales in a friendly at Wembley on Thursday October 9 and then go to Latvia in World Cup qualifying on Tuesday October 14. Fit-again Bukayo Saka returns, with the injured Noni Madueke and Tino Livramento unavailable.

READ ALSO: David Raya is the best goalkeeper in the world, says Arsenal team-mate Kai Havertz after Sporting heroics

England beat Andorra 2-0 and then thrashed Serbia 5-0 last month, with the win in Belgrade a standout performance.

READ ALSO: Peter Obi Visits Babangida, Abubakar In Minna | SEE PHOTOS

"We reached a new level and new standards in the last camp," said Tuchel. "It was clearly visible in the match against Serbia. Why not pick the same players and squad if they are available? They have to prove the point again. They set the standard and now they have to make sure the standards become more stable. This is the chance they have."

READ ALSO: How Gunmen abducted Edo Commissioner, killed police orderly

Bellingham - who was named England's player of the year this week - has made just one start for Real Madrid since returning from shoulder surgery. "He deserves to always be in camp," said Tuchel of Bellingham. "The situation is he has not gathered full rhythm [since returning from his injury]."

READ ALSO: "I Smuggled In A Camera": Sowore Shares Video Of His DSS Detention Cell, A Year After

Grealish, who has impressed on loan at Everton with four assists from six appearances, is yet to feature in a squad under Tuchel, with his last England appearance coming in October 2024.

READ ALSO: We Didn't Set Out To Conduct Perfect Elections - APC Chairman Defends Feb. 25 Election Result

Foden, who was left out of the June internationals to address physical and mental health issues but was then overlooked in September, has been performing well for Man City with two goals and two assists to his name.

READ ALSO: Eddie Howe Under Pressure as Newcastle Face Summer Exodus and Uncertain Future

"Are there players out who deserve to be with us? For sure," said Tuchel. "Is there a way back into the team through performance? 100 per cent, for sure. But at the moment we think this is the best and most straightforward decision."

READ ALSO: Sandro Tonali will choose Manchester United if they secure Champions League football

John Stones, who was initially called up last time but pulled out with injury, is back playing for Man City and included again.

READ ALSO: Abia Poly Rector Address Students Over Withdrawal Of NBTE Accreditation | READ DETAILS

AC Milan's Ruben Loftus-Cheek is called up again, after being a late replacement for Wharton in September after the Crystal Palace midfielder pulled out with injury. Wharton has started Palace's last three games, playing 90 minutes in their Conference League win against Dynamo Kyiv on Thursday night.

READ ALSO: Chelsea finances: Blues announce biggest pre-tax loss of any club in Premier League history

Cole Palmer and Trent Alexander-Arnold are also out injured. Jarell Quansah, another late call-up last month, retains his spot.

READ ALSO: Roberto De Zerbi: Tottenham in talks with ex-Brighton boss about taking over as head coach

England's wins in September cemented their place at the top of Group K in World Cup qualifying. If Serbia fail to beat Albania on October 12, England will be just one win away from confirming their place at next summer's World Cup.
'Lack of rhythm' - Tuchel defends Bellingham omission
Bellingham has featured three times off the bench for Real Madrid since returning from injury and made his first start of the season during the 5-2 defeat to rivals Atletico Madrid. When asked about why Bellingham was omitted from the latest squad, Tuchel referenced his lack of "rhythm" as the reason why.

READ ALSO: NDDC contracts: What Orji Uzor, Uduaghan said

"First of all, Jude is a very special player. For special players, there can always be special rules," Tuchel said.

READ ALSO: Who has qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup? Who do England and Scotland play? Could Lionel Messi face Cristiano Ronaldo?

"For this camp, we decided to invite the same team. That applies to Jude; he deserves to always be in camp.

READ ALSO: David Raya is the best goalkeeper in the world, says Arsenal team-mate Kai Havertz after Sporting heroics

"The situation is he has not gathered full rhythm. He hasn't finished one full match and has only started one match. When he gets back to full strength, there is an extra layer to the decision.

READ ALSO: Peter Obi Visits Babangida, Abubakar In Minna | SEE PHOTOS

"He wanted to be called up. We had a phone call but he just lacks rhythm. We stayed with our decision."

READ ALSO: How Gunmen abducted Edo Commissioner, killed police orderly

A question regarding Bellingham's importance to the national team followed, to which Tuchel added: "Do I believe we're a stronger team with Jude? Yes. Is he one of the best players in the world in midfield? Yes.

READ ALSO: "I Smuggled In A Camera": Sowore Shares Video Of His DSS Detention Cell, A Year After

"But what are we doing if a player like Jude is injured before the World Cup? Do we not travel? This is a team sport. We have to find solutions if players are injured, like now Cole Palmer.

READ ALSO: We Didn't Set Out To Conduct Perfect Elections - APC Chairman Defends Feb. 25 Election Result

"We found solutions in the last camp. This is more about the last camp and what we started to build than the dependency on individual players. It can never be the solution to depend on one player in football."
Tuchel's 'shocking' Bellingham decision magnifies situation
"It has [magnified the situation]. Tuchel made it clear that if he wanted to, he could have called Bellingham up into this squad.

READ ALSO: Eddie Howe Under Pressure as Newcastle Face Summer Exodus and Uncertain Future

"While he acknowledged that Bellingham is recovering from a shoulder operation, he made it clear that it was a decision to leave him out, along with Phil Foden and Jack Grealish.

READ ALSO: Sandro Tonali will choose Manchester United if they secure Champions League football

"It is really shocking and we cannot understate what a huge decision this is, especially at No 10.

READ ALSO: Abia Poly Rector Address Students Over Withdrawal Of NBTE Accreditation | READ DETAILS

"The general consensus is that England's three best No 10s are Bellingham, Cole Palmer and Phil Foden.

READ ALSO: Chelsea finances: Blues announce biggest pre-tax loss of any club in Premier League history

"Palmer is not available but the other two are. Foden is playing great but Tuchel chose not to select them.

READ ALSO: Roberto De Zerbi: Tottenham in talks with ex-Brighton boss about taking over as head coach

"The only reason he has done that is because the 5-0 win against Serbia was really impressive, and there was a good mood in camp. He wanted to reward the players for that."
England squad in full
Goalkeepers: Henderson, Pickford, Trafford.

READ ALSO: NDDC contracts: What Orji Uzor, Uduaghan said

Defenders: Burn, Guehi, James, Konsa, Lewis-Skelly, Quansah, Spence, Stones.

READ ALSO: Who has qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup? Who do England and Scotland play? Could Lionel Messi face Cristiano Ronaldo?

Midfielders: Anderson, Gibbs-White, Henderson, Loftus-Cheek, Rice, Rogers.

READ ALSO: David Raya is the best goalkeeper in the world, says Arsenal team-mate Kai Havertz after Sporting heroics

Forwards: Bowen, Eze, Gordon, Kane, Rashford, Saka, Watkins.
England's October fixtures
England vs Wales - 7.45pm kick-off, October 9 - Friendly

READ ALSO: Peter Obi Visits Babangida, Abubakar In Minna | SEE PHOTOS

Latvia vs England - 7.45pm kick-off, October 14 - World Cup Qualifier

Related Stories

""

— AFNEWS reporter

Join the Conversation

Signed in as Member