Trent Alexander-Arnold and Cole Palmer back in England squad

Thomas Tuchel named a 27-man group for the three-week, four-game Nations League camp

File photo dated 31/03/2026 of Cole Palmer. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Cole Palmer have both been recalled to the England squad for the upcoming Nations League fixtures. Issue date: Friday September 18, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: John Walton/PA Wire.

Trent Alexander-Arnold and Cole Palmer made headline-grabbing England returns as Thomas Tuchel included Rio Ngumoha, Alex Scott and Jarrad Branthwaite in his first squad since the World Cup.

The German coach named a 27-man group for the three-week, four-game Nations League camp, which comes just nine weeks after they returned home from the United States with bronze.

Alexander-Arnold and Palmer were the standout inclusions, with the former included for the first time since June 2025 as the latter returned having missed out on England’s World Cup squad.

Teenage winger Ngumoha, who impressed on his debut against New Zealand in June, and uncapped Scott are included having formed a part of the pre-tournament training group in Florida.

Branthwaite, whose only cap came in June 2024, received a first call-up under Tuchel, with Lewis Hall, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Dominic Calvert-Lewin also returning to the set-up.

Phil Foden, Morgan Gibbs-White and Adam Wharton were among those overlooked for recalls as Tuchel dropped World Cup squad members Ollie Watkins, Ivan Toney and Noni Madueke.

John Stones, Djed Spence, Dan Burn, Jordan Henderson and Dean Henderson missed out through injury, as presumably did the absent Reece James.

Brighton’s Jason Steele, who worked as training goalkeeper at the World Cup, was named in the squad.

ENGLAND: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Jason Steele (Brighton & Hove Albion), James Trafford (Leeds United), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Real Madrid), Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton), Trevoh Chalobah (Como), Marc Guéhi (Manchester City), Lewis Hall (Newcastle United), Ezri Konsa (Arsenal), Tino Livramento (Newcastle United), Nico O'Reilly (Manchester City), Jarrell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Elliot Anderson (Manchester City), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Alex Scott (AFC Bournemouth), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds United), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Anthony Gordon (Barcelona), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Rio Ngumoha (Liverpool), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Morgan Rogers (Chelsea), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)