Thomas Tuchel could be left having to look for a number of injury replacements as several of his England stars go down ahead of November’s two fixtures with Serbia and Albania
07:16, 11 Nov 2025Updated 07:28, 11 Nov 2025
Thomas Tuchel has booked England’s place at next year’s World Cup(Image: The FA via Getty Images)
Thomas Tuchel has been left sweating on the fitness of key players which could disrupt his World Cup preparations. Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon is a major doubt and may be forced to withdraw when the squad reports up today for the double header with Serbia and Albania.
Gordon missed Newcastle’s defeat at Brentford on Sunday and Tuchel is unlikely to call up a replacement for the last two qualifiers with England having already booked their place in the United States next summer. They also have a wealth of wide options already in the squad.
His Newcastle teammate, keeper Nick Pope, went off injured on Sunday and missing out would be a huge blow because the get-together might have given him a way back into the England set-up.
England boss Tuchel would have to call up another keeper for the Serbia game on Thursday and trip to Albania next Sunday. Manchester City’s James Trafford missed out on this squad because of a lack of game time which gave Pope his chance.
Tuchel regards this camp as a big chance for players to stake their claim for a place in the World Cup squad.
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Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi is certain to miss out this time because he has been left wearing a protective surgical boot as he suffered a foot injury in his team’s Europa Conference League fixture with AZ Alkmaar. But Guehi is expected to return for Palace after the international break.
There was no place for Chelsea ’s fit-again Trevoh Chalobah in the original squad so that could be an option as he is a firm Tuchel favourite from their time together at Stamford Bridge. Chalobah was given his England debut against Senegal in June but has struggled for fitness and minutes since then.
Anthony Gordon is a major doubt
Tuchel made it clear that he wanted to look at different players in this squad which explains the first senior call for Bournemouth ’s Alex Scott.
But Tuchel was also keen to keep competition high as these are the last two competitive games before he names his squad for next summer’s World Cup. Gordon has been impressive in recent games – including the 5-0 win in Latvia last month – despite his patchy form for Newcastle.
But Marcus Rashford may get a chance to stake his credentials after being challenged by Tuchel last month to back up his performances in training in games to prove he can be a world class player.
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