Thomas Tuchel will name his first England squad since the World Cup on Friday, facing a major decision over whether to recall Cole Palmer, Phil Foden and Trent Alexander-Arnold. The three players were headline omissions from the squad that competed in the tournament earlier this year, but their current form makes a compelling case for a return.

Palmer has been in outstanding Premier League form, making 26 appearances this season with two goals and two assists. Only Joao Pedro has scored more league goals, while only Bruno Fernandes has created more chances and taken more shots than the Chelsea playmaker. Foden leads the Premier League in assists with two, sharing that top spot with Cody Gakpo and Julio Enciso. Alexander-Arnold has delivered six successful crosses in LaLiga this season, a figure bettered by only two other defenders.

Defensive reshuffle

Injuries to key defenders will force Tuchel's hand in other areas. John Stones, Dan Burn, Djed Spence and Ben White are all sidelined, opening up opportunities for new faces in the back line. Despite strong form at Manchester United, Harry Maguire is unlikely to be recalled. Lewis Hall is expected to earn a place for the upcoming Nations League matches after a string of consistent defensive performances.

Up front, Dominic Calvert-Lewin has scored four goals in six games this season, pushing hard for a recall. Ollie Watkins, now playing in the Saudi Pro League, has three goals and two assists in four appearances. Ivan Toney's situation is complicated by an upcoming court date in Westminster to answer assault charges during the international break.

Goalkeeper Dean Henderson's foot injury creates a vacancy for a third-choice keeper alongside Jordan Pickford and James Trafford. Youngster Max Dowman, 16, has not played for the Under-21s and is not expected to be called up.

Tuchel has previously defended his tough selection calls. "It's my scar, not yours," the manager said, referencing the criticism he faced for leaving high-profile players out of the World Cup squad.

England's strong recent results add another layer to the selection puzzle. The team sits first in their World Cup qualifying group with seven points from three games, one point clear of Croatia. They have scored six goals and conceded just two, with Jude Bellingham leading the scoring charts with seven goals in eight appearances across all competitions. Their last outing was a dramatic 6-4 victory over France on 18 July. The team's next fixture is a home match against Spain on 26 September, a key Nations League encounter. Fans can check the full upcoming schedule on our fixtures page and view the full squad list on our squad page.

The manager's final choices will be revealed when he announces the squad on Friday, 18 September.

This story first appeared at Sky Sports Football