Trent Alexander-Arnold has been left out of Thomas Tuchel’s latest England squad for September’s World Cup qualifiers, with Djed Spence and Elliot Anderson both earning senior call-ups for the first time.
The Real Madrid right-back, 26, joined from Liverpool in the summer and featured in Tuchel’s first squad. But he has been overlooked for the matches against Andorra and Serbia after starting on the bench in Madrid’s 3-0 win at Real Oviedo on Sunday.
Nottingham Forest midfielder Anderson, 22, replaces the injured Jude Bellingham. Anderson has impressed since his summer move from Newcastle and also played a key role in England’s Under-21 European Championship triumph. Tottenham full-back Spence, 25, is also rewarded after establishing himself at club level.
There are recalls for Marcus Rashford, Jarrod Bowen and Adam Wharton. Jordan Henderson, now 35, keeps his place having featured in three of Tuchel’s four games in charge. However, there is no place for Kyle Walker, Phil Foden, Ivan Toney or Trevoh Chalobah. Tino Livramento and John Stones return after injury.
Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill join Bellingham on the injury list. Jack Grealish also misses out despite impressing for Everton against Brighton in front of assistant coach Anthony Barry.
Tuchel explained that the squad has been trimmed from 26 to 24 to sharpen competition. “The competition is on for places,” he said. “We want players pushing each other. That is what we need.”
England face Andorra at Villa Park on Saturday 6 September. It will be the national team’s first appearance at the ground since a goalless draw with the Netherlands in 2005. Four days later they travel to Belgrade to meet Serbia.
England top Group K with three wins from three qualifiers, though they were beaten 3-1 by Senegal in a friendly at the City Ground in June.
For Alexander-Arnold, the setback compounds a difficult week in Spain. His omission follows questions from the Madrid media over his adaptation, with Dani Carvajal viewed as ahead in the pecking order. With the World Cup nine months away, the full-back faces a battle to regain his place.