England head coach Thomas Tuchel says “the door is always open” after recalling Trent Alexander-Arnold and Cole Palmer to his first squad since the World Cup – but has warned players they have to “perform”.
Tuchel controversially left Real Madrid right-back Alexander-Arnold and Chelsea forward Palmer out of his squad for the summer tournament in North America.
Both return for four Nations League games during an extended international break after this weekend’s club fixtures.
Alexander-Arnold, 27, won the most recent of his 34 England caps when he came on as a substitute in a 1-0 win against Andorra in June 2025.
He has made five appearances, including three starts, for Real Madrid so far this season, registering one assist.
Palmer, 24, last played for England in a 1-0 friendly defeat by Japan in March. He has scored four goals and provided two assists in six games this season.
“They had a good start to the season,” said Tuchel, who has again omitted Manchester City’s Phil Foden. “They never did something wrong. We just chose different players.
“So now it is a new competition. Some players, some positions, have more injuries. Some have less injuries. Cole has his starts that he always had but he has his numbers back – he has his assists back, he has decisive goals back – so that is why he is in the squad.
“I think he has a point to prove, and the same goes for Trent. He was never off the list. He was never non-selectable for us, and it is his chance to show, come to camp and be the best version of himself.”
Alexander-Arnold played in midfield in Real’s Champions League win over Inter Milan earlier this month, but Tuchel said he had picked the former Liverpool player as a full-back.
“He had a good start in two positions for Real Madrid and he comes as a right-back for us,” he said.
On his trust in Alexander Arnold, Tuchel said: “[He needs to] perform, that’s just what it is. It is a competition and I understand the question because he was not with us at the World Cup. We trusted other players.
“I still stick with this decision and it is now time to fight for his place. He always said he is up for a fight, he always said he is up to fight for his place – especially for England – so it is on him to prove and he is more than welcome in camp.
“We have a long camp and I am sure he will show up.”
Tuchel said the onus was now on players to impress in the international set-up.
“It is one thing to be nominated, like with Cole, and getting your ticket back in the squad but it’s another thing to perform for England,” he said.
“Cole needs to step up when he comes and he needs to show these kind of numbers to get his place, keep his shirt and justify the nomination.”
England host World Cup winners Spain at Wembley on Saturday, 26 September, then travel to Czech Republic (Tuesday, 29 September) and Croatia (Saturday, 3 October) before the Czechs visit on Tuesday, 6 October.
Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott and Liverpool winger Rio Ngumoha, who were both in the Three Lions’ pre-World Cup squad, both feature again.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin, whose three top-flight goals so far this season have helped Leeds United go third in the Premier League, is also included.
Tuchel has also picked Newcastle United left-back Lewis Hall, Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite, Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly, who can play at left-back or in midfield, and Brighton keeper Jason Steele.
Dean Henderson, Jordan Henderson, Reece James, Djed Spence and John Stones, who were all in the World Cup squad, miss out, with Tuchel saying they were not selected because of injuries.
Along with Foden, other notable absentees are Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White, Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and Manchester United’s Harry Maguire.
