Liverpool youngster Rio Ngumoha is among a group of players who will join England in their pre-World Cup training camp. Thomas Tuchel announced his 26-man squad on Friday morning, with several high-profile stars missing out.
Harry Maguire, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Adam Wharton, Cole Palmer, Morgan Gibbs-White and Phil Foden are among the players to be omitted from the Three Lions squad, with Djed Spence and Ivan Toney the most surprising players to make the cut.
Tuchel faced reporters to explain his decisions and announced that Liverpool’s Ngumoha, Bournemouth’s Alex Scott and Fulham’s Josh King will all play a role in England’s preparations in the United States, as well as one as-yet-unnamed player.
“We will take some young players out who will train with us and keep the squad in the size that we need,” Tuchel said. “We have all the possibilities for the two friendly matches to take care about the minutes and the load off the players so this will be Alex Scott, Rio Ngumoha, Josh King and there will be one more player which we cannot name because it is not confirmed yet.
“But I am happy that these guys are with us, especially Alex who was even on the list of 55 and had a disappointing phone call as well, that he didn’t make the first cut but the reaction was outstanding, the commitment, the wish to be in pre-camp and to just be a step closer to the team showed me his character.
“I am delighted he is with us because he was a close call and gets a chance to take a step closer and to get a cap.”
The extra bodies are needed when England jet out to Florida on June 1 because Arsenal’s players won’t be able to join up straight away. Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke are all involved in Arsenal’s Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain on May 30 in Budapest.
View 2 ImagesRio Ngumoha has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign for Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)
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Meanwhile, veteran Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele will provide cover for Crystal Palace’s Dean Henderson, who will also join up late with the group due to the Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano on May 27 in Leipzig.
“I think Dean is not an issue, we have Jason Steele in camp,” Tuchel said. “We can start with three goalkeepers and we have four.” Jordan Pickford remains England’s number one, with Manchester City’s James Trafford the other option in the squad.
England will fly out to Florida first, for some preparation, before heading onto their main base in Kansas City. While the tournament kicks off on June 11, The Three Lions’ first game is against Croatia in Arlington, Texas, on June 17, ahead of further group matches against Ghana and Panama.
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson, James Trafford
Defenders: Reece James, Jarell Quansah, Ezri Konsa, John Stones, Marc Guehi, Nico O’Reilly, Dan Burn, Tino Livramento, Djed Spence
Midfielders: Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, Kobbie Mainoo, Jordan Henderson, Morgan Rogers, Eberechi Eze, Jude Bellingham
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Forwards: Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Gordon, Harry Kane (C), Ollie Watkins, Ivan Toney
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