England Squad Call Up: Alexander-Arnold, Palmer, Ngumoha Omitted Foden
Gareth Southgate has ripped up a few assumptions with his latest England squad for the upcoming Nations League fixtures – and the headline omission is as big as any of the surprise inclusions.
Phil Foden is out.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Cole Palmer, Alex Scott and 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha are in.
The Manchester City playmaker, long seen as a central pillar of England’s future, has been left out of a group that blends established stars with some of the most highly rated young talent in the country. In his place, a different kind of creativity and versatility has been rewarded.
Bold calls in every line
The three goalkeepers are as expected, if not spectacularly so: Jordan Pickford keeps his place as the undisputed No 1, joined by James Trafford and Jason Steele. No shocks there; Southgate has opted for continuity behind a reshaped outfield.
It’s in defence that the squad list really starts to jolt the eye. Trent Alexander-Arnold is officially named among the defenders, underlining the ongoing debate over whether he is a full-back, a hybrid or something else entirely in an England shirt. Alongside him come Jarrad Branthwaite and Trevor Chalobah, while Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa and Jarrell Quansah add further competition at centre-back.
On the flanks and in the younger bracket, Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento are included, both capable of operating on either side and both comfortable on the ball. Nico O’Reilly’s name on the defenders’ list adds another nod to technical, progressive profiles.
Then comes the real engine room shake-up. Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice are the anchors of the midfield group, but around them the picture looks refreshingly new. Kobbie Mainoo, who has surged through the ranks at Manchester United, is joined by Elliot Anderson, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Alex Scott – a quartet that screams long-term planning as much as short-term impact.
Cole Palmer, listed as a midfielder, is the clearest sign that form and versatility are being prized. He can operate between the lines, off the flank or as a false nine, and his inclusion feels inevitable after his club performances.
Up front, the old and new collide. Harry Kane remains the reference point, the captain and the finisher. Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze, Anthony Gordon and Dominic Calvert-Lewin bring a mix of direct running, flair and penalty-box presence.
Then there is Rio Ngumoha. The teenager’s rise has been rapid, and his selection here confirms that England’s staff see him as more than just a prospect. Morgan Rogers also gets the nod, adding another wide-forward option who can drift into central areas.
The full England squad
Goalkeepers:
Jordan Pickford, James Trafford, Jason Steele
Defenders:
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jarrod Branthwaite, Trevor Chalobah, Marc Guehi, Lewis Hall, Ezri Konsa, Tino Livramento, Nico O’Reilly, Jarrell Quansah
Midfielders:
Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Kobbie Mainoo, Cole Palmer, Declan Rice, Alex Scott
Forwards:
Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Eberechi Eze, Anthony Gordon, Harry Kane, Rio Ngumoha, Marcus Rashford, Morgan Rogers, Bukayo Saka
Big names left watching on
Outside the 26, the noise has already started. Adam Wharton’s absence, again, is being questioned loudly. Morgan Gibbs-White also misses out, another creative midfielder who cannot yet force his way past the new wave.
And then there is Foden. The decision to exclude a player of his calibre will be pored over in the coming days, dissected through the prism of tactics, roles and form. But it also sends a message: nobody is untouchable, and this is not a closed shop.
Southgate has chosen a squad that looks built for energy, flexibility and risk. The Nations League has often been dismissed as a dressed-up friendly programme. With this kind of selection, it suddenly feels like a proving ground – for a manager unafraid to gamble, and for a generation desperate to show it belongs on the biggest stage.
