Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah and Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford have received call-ups to the England squad after Anthony Gordon and Nick Pope withdrew through injury.
Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah and Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford have received call-ups to the England squad after Anthony Gordon and Nick Pope withdrew through injury.
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe confirmed that winger Gordon is struggling with a hip issue, while goalkeeper Pope suffered a concussion. The Football Association later verified their absence on Tuesday.
The changes come ahead of England’s final World Cup qualifying fixtures, with the Three Lions already assured of a place at next summer’s tournament. Manager Thomas Tuchel has moved swiftly to ensure full squad depth as preparations continue.
Crystal Palace center-back Marc Guehi, who picked up a foot injury during his side’s Conference League victory over AZ Alkmaar last week, has still reported for international duty.
According to the FA, the defender will remain with Tuchel’s group while his condition is evaluated “in the coming days.” Guehi’s involvement in the upcoming qualifiers remains uncertain, but his inclusion underlines Tuchel’s trust in his recovery process.
Chalobah’s return marks his first England call-up since May, when he made his debut in a friendly against Senegal. Despite being omitted from the squads for September and October, Tuchel had previously praised the 26-year-old’s performances and expressed sympathy over his earlier omission.
The Chelsea academy graduate has been a regular fixture at club level this season, missing only four matches across all competitions. His consistent displays have helped Chelsea maintain third place in the Premier League, reach the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, and progress in the Champions League league phase.
Tuchel has played a pivotal role in Chalobah’s rise, handing him his senior debut for Chelsea back in 2021. His latest selection highlights the continued faith the England manager has in his former club player.
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), James Trafford (Manchester City)
Defenders: Dan Burn (Newcastle United), Trevoh Chalobah (Chelsea), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Reece James (Chelsea), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Nico O'Reilly (Manchester City), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Djed Spence (Tottenham Hotspur), John Stones (Manchester City)
Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa), Alex Scott (Bournemouth), Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace)
Forwards: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona, loan from Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
England faces Albania and Serbia to close out their World Cup qualifying campaign. With qualification already secured, the upcoming fixtures provide Tuchel an opportunity to experiment with squad options and assess new faces ahead of next summer’s competition.
The inclusion of Chalobah and Trafford adds fresh competition in key positions, ensuring England remains balanced as preparations continue for the tournament.
