Cole Palmer, Trent Alexander Arnold back in England squad for Nations League
Cole Palmer and Trent Alexander-Arnold have both returned to the England squad, head coach Thomas Tuchel confirmed, marking a significant recall for two players controversially left out of the side's World Cup campaign earlier this year.
England open their Nations League campaign on September 26 against world champions Spain, with two further fixtures against Czech Republic and a meeting with Croatia to follow later in the window.
Alexander-Arnold had not featured for England since June 2025, having missed the World Cup entirely, a decision that drew significant criticism once injuries to Tino Livramento and Reece James left Tuchel needing to convert centre backs Ezri Konsa and Jarell Quansah into makeshift right backs during the tournament.
Palmer, meanwhile, had last played for Tuchel's side back in March this year, and returns to the fold alongside Alexander-Arnold as part of a squad that also sees several notable absences from this year's World Cup group.
Phil Foden, Jordan Henderson and Ollie Watkins, the latter having since moved to the Saudi Pro League, have all been left out of Tuchel's latest selection, alongside Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw, neither of whom feature for the upcoming fixtures either.
Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite also returns to the squad, having made just a single senior appearance for his country back in June 2024, while Liverpool's highly rated 18 year old forward Rio Ngumoha earns his own call up alongside Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott.
Tuchel has named a 27 man squad for the international window, with the group set to be trimmed down to a final 23 players before the tournament fixtures begin.
England's summer campaign ended in third place at the World Cup, their best finish since winning the tournament outright in 1966, though Tuchel faced scrutiny over his handling of the semi final defeat to Argentina, having led 1-0 until the 85th minute before eventually losing 2-1.
England squad
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Jason Steele (Brighton and Hove Albion), James Trafford (Leeds United)
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Real Madrid), Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton), Trevoh Chalobah (Chelsea), Marc Guehi (Manchester City), Lewis Hall (Newcastle United), Ezri Konsa (Arsenal), Tino Livramento (Newcastle United), Nico O'Reilly (Manchester City), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen)
Midfielders: 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)
Forwards: Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds United), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Anthony Gordon (Barcelona), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Rio Ngumoha (Liverpool), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Morgan Rogers (Chelsea), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)