England manager Thomas Tuchel recently announced his first team squad for March’s World Cup Qualifiers fixture, recalling Manchester United’s forsaken son Marcus Rashford who is on loan to Aston Villa until the end of the 2024-2025 season.
England will play against Albania on Friday at the Wembley Stadium in their first World Cup 2026 qualifiers.
United manager Ruben Amorim and Marcus Rashford were on each other’s necks with the 40-year-old criticising Rashford’s performance and professionalism he had concerns over his behavior and habits.
Rashford had developed some unhealthy habits that he was unwilling to change, leading him to be excluded from the squad.
He also highlighted in a press conference he would rather field the 63-year-old goalkeeping coach, Jorge Vital, over a player who wasn’t giving his all. The 27-year-old has not been giving the attitude of someone “who is giving the maximum every day.”
Rashford joined Aston Villa in January on loan and has been getting a lot of game time which has re-earned him, his spot in the England squad.
He last featured for the Three Lions in March last year as a substitute against Brazil at Wembley Stadium where Brazil won the match 1-0.
Manchester City winger Jack Grealish has been left out of the squad due to lack of game time. Pep Guardiola has since apologised to the 29-year-old for not giving him enough game time.
“I don’t know – I want the best for him, I want his best. I cannot judge the reasons why (he was left out of the England squad).”
Grealish was selected in the last England team in November but later withdrew in the Nations League Fixtures against Greece and Republic of Ireland.
Ajax Midfielder Jordan Henderson also returns after being dropped by Former England manager Gareth Southgate ahead of the Euro 2024. His last appearance was in November 2023 against Malta. Tuchel told the media that it was an easy decision to pick Henderson because of his leadership skills and qualities.
“He’s a serial winner, he’s captain of Ajax at the moment and he’s played a lot of matches. What he brings to every team is leadership, character, personality, and energy. He makes sure that everyone lives by the standards. With this characteristic, he embodies everything we’re trying to build”
England Selected Squad
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).
