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England squad: Cole Palmer, Phil Foden and Kobbie Mainoo left out as Jobe Bellingham and Josh King called up
Thomas Tuchel names his 25-man England squad for Nations League matches against Croatia and Spain; Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, Kobbie Mainoo left out; Jobe Bellingham and Josh King handed first senior call-ups; Ben White and Djed Spence return; Bukayo Saka, Adam Scott, Marcus Rashford injured
Friday 6 November 2026 11:14, UK
Thomas Tuchel has left Cole Palmer out of the England squad, along with Phil Foden and Kobbie Mainoo, but Jude Bellingham’s brother Jobe and Fulham midfielder Josh King have earned their first senior call-ups.
Chelsea's Palmer was hugely disappointed when he was overlooked for the World Cup in the summer after a stop-start season due to injury, and he withdrew from the last England camp in September and October because of a minor fitness issue, but he has been back to his best this season with five goals and three assists in 11 appearances.
England made medical checks with Chelsea on Thursday over Palmer and Sky Sports News understands those checks confirmed he was fully fit and ready to take a full part in England's upcoming Nations League matches against Croatia and Spain.
When it was put to Tuchel in the last break that Palmer doesn't seem desperate to play for England, he 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."
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Manchester United midfielder Mainoo also withdrew from the previous squad with an unspecified injury having failed to feature at the World Cup despite being selected.
Manchester City forward Foden remains out of favour despite contributing six goal involvements in as many games, having been overlooked for last summer's tournament and the autumn squad.
However, the notable absences have created opportunities for first-time call-ups for King and Borussia Dortmund's Jobe Bellingham, both of whom have previously represented England at youth level.
Defenders Trevoh Chalobah and Tino Livramento have both withdrawn through injury, while left-back Nico O'Reilly misses out after being deemed "not 100 per cent" by Manchester City head coach Enzo Maresca. However, Trent Alexander-Arnold retains his place in the squad.
Inter Milan full-back Djed Spence returns for the first time since the World Cup after an injury, while Arsenal defender Ben White is recalled after being overlooked since March, when some England supporters booed him.
Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott is ruled out with a thigh injury, so Everton's James Garner, who was called up as a replacement in the autumn, comes in.
Nottingham Forest forward Morgan Gibbs-White will look to fill the void left by England stalwarts Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka, who are both injured, with Arsenal winger Noni Madueke overlooked.
More to follow...
England squad in full...
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Jason Steele (Brighton & Hove Albion), James Trafford (Leeds United)
Defenders: Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton), Marc Guehi (Manchester City), Lewis Hall (Newcastle United), Ezri Konsa (Arsenal), Jarrell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Djed Spence (Inter Milan), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Real Madrid), Ben White (Arsenal).
Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Manchester City), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Jobe Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), James Garner (Everton), Josh King (Fulham), Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), Declan Rice (Arsenal).
Forwards: Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds United), Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest), Anthony Gordon (Barcelona), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Rio Ngumoha (Liverpool), Morgan Rogers (Chelsea).
England fixtures
- Thursday November 12: England vs Croatia, 7.45pm kick-off
- Sunday November 15: Spain vs England, 7.45pm kick-off
Tuchel makes statement with King over Palmer, Foden
Sky Sports' Nick Wright:
"Josh King's England call-up follows a strong start to the season with Fulham. The 19-year-old, who made his senior breakthrough under Marco Silva, has started every Premier League game under Alvaro Arbeloa and impressed in tough circumstances.
"King, a regular in England's youth teams, has usurped club-record signing Emile Smith Rowe in the No 10 role for Fulham. It is a testament to Thomas Tuchel's belief in his ability that he sees him as an option in a position in which England are stacked with talent. King has been picked ahead of Cole Palmer and Phil Foden. It is a statement by the manager.
"King joined England's pre-World Cup training camp and only narrowly missed out on selection for September's squad, according to Tuchel. Since then, he has continued to grow in stature for Fulham, taking on more responsibility even at his young age.
"He has two goals and an assist in the Premier League so far this season and his attacking threat is evidenced by an unmatched total of 57 touches in the opposition box, which puts him ahead of Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku. Now to test himself with England."
Can White win over England fans?
Sky Sports' Nick Wright:
"Ben White's England career appeared to be over during his self-imposed exile following a fall-out with Gareth Southgate and Steve Holland at the 2022 World Cup but the Arsenal defender's call-up underlines his value to Thomas Tuchel.
"White's return to the fold in March was divisive. He was booed by some fans at Wembley against Uruguay, even when scoring the opening goal, and ended up conceding a late penalty before attracting more boos in the subsequent meeting with Japan.
"But Tuchel may well have included him in his World Cup squad if not for the knee injury he suffered in May and clearly the manager has not been put off by the hamstring issue that caused him to miss England's last camp in September.
"White has impressed for Arsenal this season, starting regularly at right-back with Jurrien Timber sidelined for the opening months of the campaign. He has shown the attacking threat he offers in the role with three assists in seven Premier League appearances.
"His versatility, as a natural centre-back, likely adds to his appeal to Tuchel but his reception in March shows he still has work to do to repair relations with the Three Lions fanbase."
