Under the guidance of Thomas Tuchel, the England squad has taken a new identity, with some surprise inclusions and previous regulars under Gareth Southgate left out.
The latest returnee comes in the form of the Ruben Loftus-Cheek England call-up, a player who has not featured for England since 2019. But has he earned his place back, or is this another unexpected decision?
Other Unforeseen England Call-Ups
Since Thomas Tuchel has taken the reins as England manager, he has included many players, with some in very surprising ways. This is best represented by recent inclusions of the likes of Dan Burn and Jordan Henderson.
The quality of centre-back Dan Burn should not be disregarded. However, many do not believe he is a ‘special’ centre-back who should consistently be in the England squad.
At club level, he has performed well and been a part of Newcastle’s success. However, it has often been at left-back rather than centre-back, indicating that players who play in their desired position on a more consistent basis should be more highly considered.
Furthermore, with the signing of Malick Thiaw alongside Sven Botman and Fabian Schar, Burn may see his gametime further reduced, in addition to the fact that Tino Livramento is often the preferred left-back option.
Jordan Henderson has featured in multiple England camps since the appointment of Thomas Tuchel as manager, providing leadership and experience within the squad. However, this means that Tuchel has called up a player in the latter stages of his career, playing for Ajax, something which, on face value, may not be regarded as an ‘England-worthy’ call-up.
This summer, Jordan Henderson made the move to Brentford and returned to the Premier League. He has performed well in the opening matches for Keith Andrews’ side, earning a call-up once more.
This indicates that his inclusion may be more warranted. However, it lacks the excitement that England fans desire, for example, with the latest call-up for squad compatriot Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest.
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Ruben Loftus-Cheek England Call-Up Analysis
Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton picked up an injury during their recent resounding victory over Aston Villa, paving the way for the Ruben Loftus-Cheek England call-up.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek has played top-level football consistently since his last England call-up back in 2019, appearing for clubs including Chelsea, Fulham and, mostly, AC Milan. His first season with AC Milan was his most successful, helping the side to a second place finish in Serie A, finishing eigth the season after and currently sitting in eigth.
Overall, the midfielder has played 71 times for AC Milan, scoring 11 and assisting three goals. These stats portray the fact that Loftus-Cheek has played various roles during his time at the club. However, these stats don’t make for exciting reading from an England point of view.
Knowing that the player is a tall, front-footed and forward-thinking midfielder, you would perhaps be wise to expect an increased number of assists in 71 appearances, as that should be a key trait for a midfielder like Loftus-Cheek.
Throughout his time with AC Milan, Loftus-Cheek has predominantly operated as an attacking midfielder, scoring most of his goals from that position. However, his opportunities were limited last season as he only played 19 times, perhaps adding another reason as to why this inclusion is surprising, in addition to his goals and assist stats.
Conclusion
With every England manager and every international break, there are often squad inclusions that are hotly debated and proceedings under Thomas Tuchel have been no exception to this. However, this is an accolade that these players will of course be proud of on a personal level.
Tuchel himself presents an extensive CV and perhaps a greater CV than a number of England’s other recent managers. Therefore, his decisions will continue to be debated.
However, they should be trusted somewhat to ensure England have potential chances of success at the World Cup.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / PPAUK
Recording Date: 03.09.2025