Trent Alexander-Arnold, Phil Foden & the biggest selection decisions facing Thomas Tuchel ahead of England World Cup squad announcement
Captain Harry Kane is a guaranteed starter up front at the World Cup, barring what would be an unmitigated disaster, but the contest to be one of his back-ups appears to be wide open as a clutch of strikers vie for limited seats on the plane. Tuchel is reportedly considering taking three centre-forwards to the tournament.
Ollie Watkins, who was effective as an understudy at Euro 2024, has hit form at just the right time in what had otherwise been a difficult season, which included him being left out in March. The Aston Villa hitman has netted 11 times in his last 14 appearances.
In Saudi Arabia, Ivan Toney has plundered goals at a ridiculous rate to surpass the 40 mark, but he hasn’t played for his country for close to a yearsuggesting Tuchel won’t give much thought to those playing in relatively weaker leagues, despite the 30-year-old’s prowess from the penalty spot.
Back in the Premier League, 15-goal Dominic Calvert-Lewin was called up for the last camp so has an outside chance, as was Dominic Solanke, although the Spurs man has been nursing an injury. There have also been calls for Danny Welbeck to be included, given the veteran has struck 14 times for Brighton in 2025-26, but you have to feel that his chances are slim at this stage.
