Maguire and Mainoo Recalled as Tuchel Names 35-Man England Squad

• Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo return to the England squad under Thomas Tuchel
• Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ollie Watkins miss out despite expanded 35-man group
• Tuchel to split squad across two phases ahead of friendlies against Uruguay and Japan

Thomas Tuchel has recalled Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo to the England national team squad while leaving out Trent Alexander-Arnold in a 35-man selection for upcoming friendlies.

England face Uruguay national team and Japan national team at Wembley Stadium in what will be the final international camp before Tuchel names his World Cup squad in May.

Neither Maguire nor Mainoo had previously been selected by Tuchel, with both last featuring in September 2024 under interim manager Lee Carsley.

The squad also includes Lewis Hall and a first senior call-up for James Garner, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin returns for the first time since 2021 alongside Dominic Solanke.

However, there was no place for Ollie Watkins, and Trent Alexander-Arnold was also omitted despite an injury to Reece James.

Jude Bellingham was included despite not playing since early February due to a hamstring issue.

Tuchel said the expanded squad reflects the unique nature of the March international window.

“It is our last opportunity to impress and compete for a place,” he said. “It is a mix of motives and headlines because players are in crucial moments with their clubs.”

The England manager also confirmed the camp will be split into two phases to manage workload and assess players more effectively.

An initial group will prepare for the match against Uruguay, before a second wave of players including Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice join later.

Tuchel said the decision was made to manage players who have already logged heavy minutes this season, allowing them time to recover before rejoining the squad.

Recalls for Maguire and Mainoo follow improved performances at Manchester United under Michael Carrick, with the club winning seven of their last nine matches.

Meanwhile, players such as Trevoh Chalobah and Alex Scott miss out after being included in the previous squad.

The Football Association also confirmed that Jason Steele has been selected with the possibility of serving as a training goalkeeper during the World Cup.

Tuchel will now use the two friendlies to finalise his plans ahead of naming his squad for the tournament this summer.

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Hailey

Hailey Russell is a football journalist and former Division 1 collegiate athlete in the United States, bringing a unique blend of elite playing experience and professional insight to her work. Currently competing at the professional level in Europe, Hailey combines first-hand knowledge of the modern game with sharp analysis across match reports, player development, and tactical breakdowns.

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