Jordan Henderson has earned a shock recall with Marcus Rashford and Myles Lewis-Skelly also included in Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad for two upcoming World Cup 2026 qualifiers.
Former Liverpool midfielder Henderson last featured for England in November 2023, and currently plays for Ajax after a failed stint in Saudi Arabia.
That initial move to the Saudi Pro League appeared to bring an end to his England chances, but 12 months on from last making the cut – he was an unused sub against Belgium last March – the 34-year-old is named among four central midfielders in Tuchel’s squad.
Tuchel said Henderson was an “easy” pick, adding on their recent video call: “It was nice to see his genuine reaction and you could feel the serial winner with over 80 caps, the pure joy and how humble he was to take this decision and how happy he is to come back.”
Meanwhile, it is a first inclusion in a year for Rashford, who is currently on loan at Aston Villa from Manchester United and has enjoyed a bright start under Unai Emery’s side.
“He’s made a huge impact mainly from the bench and the impact was impressive,” Tuchel said.
“The physical impact was impressive and most importantly, the impact against the ball – his work rate, his defensive impact, his hard work in counter-pressing, his tracking back in his position was impressive.
“I had the strong feeling that we should nominate him, bring him in to push him to stay on that level and not fall back in old routines. This camp is to bond with him and push him to stay on that level.”
Lewis-Skelly, 18, earns his first senior call-up. There is also an inclusion for Dan Burn, the versatile Newcastle defender who makes the senior squad for the first time.
“Incredible moment for Dan, and I have to say there’s no-one more deserving in my opinion,” Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said.
“Starting to work with Dan when we did – obviously he came in during our relegation battle – he’s just such an inspiring guy, but also a very talented player.”
Tuchel also brings Reece James back into the squad having worked with the full-back previously at Chelsea.
In attack, Spurs’ Dominic Solanke has got the nod as Harry Kane’s back-up over Villa striker Ollie Watkins.
There is no place for Jack Grealish, with Jarrod Bowen and Anthony Gordon both included ahead of the Manchester City winger.
Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White is a notable absentee, the attacking midfielder among the key plays leading their surprise Champions League push.
Manchester United defender Harry Maguire and Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton are also overlooked.
England host Albania on Friday 21 March at Wembley, Tuchel’s first game in charge, and take on Latvia at the national stadium three days later on Monday 24 March.
How Henderson earned England recall: ‘An easy pick’
A favourite of previous England manager Gareth Southgate, Tuchel appears to have followed suit when explaining this surprise pick.
“With Jordan, it’s a pretty easy one. He’s a serial winner, he’s captain of Ajax at the moment and he’s played a lot of matches,” Tuchel said.
“What he brings to every team is leadership, character, personality, energy. He makes sure that everyone lives by the standards.”
Henderson’s Ajax are on course to win the Dutch title, but of late he has played just 38 minutes of their most recent four league games.
The Ajax captain picked up a hamstring injury in February and has since only played 90 minutes once, in their Europa League defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt last week.
In that match he even picked up a yellow to miss Thursday night’s return leg due to suspension, and so his inclusion in Tuchel’s England squad speaks more towards the style the new Three Lions manager may be looking to play.
It is a pragmatic inclusion, if not an exciting one, and his experience in England camps appears to be why Tuchel views him as a potential stop-gap before naming younger central midfielders in his stead.
“With this characteristic, he embodies everything we’re trying to build. We’re trying to build a team for our fans are proud of and can identify with and is hopefully an exciting watch,” Tuchel added.
“Jordan embodies everything we want from this team.”
In this regard, it’s a blow for Atletico Madrid’s Conor Gallagher – who scored against Real Madrid this week – and Palace’s Wharton, a surprise call-up himself for Euro 2024.
England squad in full
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Southampton), James Trafford (Burnley)
Defenders: Dan Burn (Newcastle United), Levi Colwill (Chelsea), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Reece James (Chelsea), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), Tino Livramento (Newcastle United), Jarell Quansah (Liverpool), Kyle Walker (AC Milan, loan from Manchester City)
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), Jordan Henderson (Ajax), Curtis Jones (Liverpool), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)
Forwards: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Marcus Rashford (Aston Villa, loan from Manchester United), Dominic Solanke (Tottenham Hotspur)
