This season, a staggering 52 eligible players for the England national team, yet to earn their caps, have featured in starting line-ups across the top five European leagues. Among those keeping a close eye on them is Thomas Tuchel. While some may remain uncapped, several players have a genuine shot at breaking into the national squad.
Journalist Andrei Dyumin has assessed the prospects of each of the 52 candidates, ranking them in terms of their likelihood of debuting for the Three Lions.
Top 15 contenders for a call-up to the England squad
15. Aiden Haven (Manchester United)
The Manchester United factor always carries weight for England's coaches, but the 18-year-old defender has only seen action in two Premier League matches this season (a 0-2 defeat to Hull and a 2-3 loss to Brighton), which dampens his current prospects. Still, the potential he holds is immense.
14. Harrison Armstrong (Everton)
Armstrong has followed the path of Elliot Anderson, making the leap from academy talent to first-team action after a loan at Nottingham Forest. Since his return to Everton, he has been a regular starter in a side hitting great form.
13. James Hill (Bournemouth)
While he seemed more likely to break through under Andoni Iraola last season, Hill is finding it hard to emerge through the competition at centre-back. Establishing himself in a Bournemouth side struggling under Marco Rose is no easy task.
12. Karl Rushworth (Coventry)
The goalkeeper is tipped for a guaranteed call-up to the national team in the coming years. Nevertheless, securing a backup position in England is immensely challenging—just ask James Trafford, who made numerous sacrifices for his debut.
11. Josh Achiampong (Chelsea)
His youth, versatility, and experience with youth national teams work in his favour. However, playing in Chelsea's beleaguered defence is currently doing more harm than good to his reputation.
10. Lewis Miley (Newcastle United)
His debut for the national team under Tuchel is merely a matter of time. The talented midfielder is viewed as a key asset for the future.
9. Archie Gray (Tottenham)
Gray may need to be patient until Tottenham stabilises and stops finishing the season in the lower half of the table. His task to cover multiple positions on the pitch isn’t helping either.
8. Marcus Tavernier (Bournemouth)
A quality player in excellent form, but he could be forever the argument among Bournemouth fans about how national team coaches overlook talent from smaller clubs.
7. Leif Davis (Ipswich Town)
An impressive left-back in solid form, but when Lewis Hall was substituted, he was replaced by Rico Lewis, a nominal right-back who hasn't played for the national team in nearly two years.
6. Josh King (Fulham)
King has been heavily involved in training with the national team as they prepare for the World Cup. At Fulham, he is playing an increasingly pivotal role.
5. Job Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund)
If he possesses even a fraction of the talent and tenacity of his brother Jude, Job will become an incredible asset for England for years, even if he plays as a lone creative force.
4. Keane Lewis-Potter (Brentford)
Surprisingly, Lewis-Potter has helped Brentford emerge as European contenders but is hardly mentioned in national team discussions. He is a vital player for the Bees who is unjustly overlooked.
3. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (Everton)
“I know I’m closer to the national team now than I’ve ever been. You receive a message two weeks before the squad announcement. I got notification that I was in the expanded list before the World Cup, and it’s the same now. I have to make the coach choose me; no one is giving me a place,” the midfielder stated.
2. Jack Hinshlewood (Brighton)
It appears an ill-timed injury has been the only thing keeping him from a call-up. In his only Premier League appearance this season, he bagged a brace playing in an unfamiliar role. Should he cement a place in the stellar Brighton side, a call-up is highly likely.
1. Liam Delap (Nottingham Forest)
Dominic Calvert-Lewin knows that stepping in for Harry Kane for five minutes in every second match has to be earned consistently. A few more goals, and Delap will secure his spot in the national team.
Positions 16 to 52: from hopefuls in France to deep reserves
16. Tyler Morton (Lyon): one of the best English exports who continues to progress post his Liverpool departure.
17. Jaidon Anthony (Brentford): scored once in the thrashing of Chelsea. Should he play for the Bees in the Champions League within a year, a call-up will be close.
18. Charlie Creswell (Rennes): he’s had plenty of youth caps and a successful journey in Ligue 1, but there’s a risk of repeating Fikayo Tomori's fate.
19. Bobby Thomas (Coventry City): lack of experience at youth level may hinder him, but a tall defender at 193cm will always be useful.
20. Ethan Nwaneri (Borussia Dortmund): right now, getting stable minutes in Dortmund is more crucial for him, of which he is receiving about 55-65 minutes per game.
21. George Hemmings (Aston Villa): currently far from a call-up, but several months under Unai Emery and experience in the Champions League could change that.
22. Lloyd Kelly (Juventus): his time in Turin is always a pleasant surprise, but he’s still a long way from the national team.
23. Cameron Archer (Auxerre): after escaping the relegation struggles in the Premier League, the former Sheffield and Southampton striker has netted in his first three matches for the French club under Will Still.
24. James McAtee (Nottingham Forest): a talented player with experience at City and in the youth national team, but if Tuchel overlooks Adam Wharton, McAtee could find himself out in the cold too.
25. Jamai Simpson-Puzi (Koln): after a challenging period under Guardiola and a loan at Celtic, it’s crucial for the defender to settle in Germany.
26. Joe Willock (Newcastle United): Montserrat is ready to call him up if England continues to hesitate.
27. Jayden Bogle (Leeds United): if the national team transitions to a three-at-the-back formation, Bogle should be among the first candidates.
28. Tyrese Dolan (Espanyol): he scored in the first round of La Liga against Levante, but to get the call for England’s strong attack, he needs to do substantially more.
29. Regan Slater (Hull City): an impressive player by Premier League standards, but he isn’t at the international level just yet.
30. Jack Rudoni (Coventry City): a key figure in Coventry’s rise, but he was nearest to international level when attempting to get eligibility to play for the USA at the 2024 Olympics.
31. Hayden Hackney (Everton): featured in all matches of the unbeaten Everton season but has only come off the bench in the last four, adapting to David Moyes’ system.
32. Ryan Giles (Hull City): the former youth player has been outstanding for the Tigers, but he’s far back in the queue for the left-back spot.
33. Jacob Greaves (Ipswich Town): he stands a chance amid uncertainty in the national side’s defence, but in his last match, he dropped to the bench following a tough game against Alexander Isak.
34. Jack Clarke (Ipswich Town): scored more in the Premier League than Barkley, Savio, and Marmush combined, yet has only completed a full match once in 36 attempts in his career.
35. Mikey Moore (Koln / Tottenham): pushing for a call-up for the 19-year-old isn’t necessary; it’s more beneficial for him to strengthen through a loan in the Bundesliga.
36. Lewie Coyle (Hull City): in another era, the 30-year-old team captain from the upper-table side would be front row on the national bus, but now that’s impossible.
37. Keinan Davis (Udinese): many think he should have been called up during the World Cup, but there’s been nothing since.
38. C.J. Egan-Riley (Marseille): the defender has rebooted his career in France successfully, but his team is currently mired in a relegation battle.
39. Steven Mfuni (Coventry City): Frank Lampard praises the talented and versatile defender who has won all his games in the Premier League “to nil”.
40. Jonathan Rowe (Atalanta / Bologna): the author of the winning goal at the youth Euro 2025 has gone on loan to Bergamo, but breaking into England's star-studded attack will be incredibly hard.
41. Brook Norton-Cuffy (Genoa / Hull City): has undergone excellent training with Chelsea and Arsenal, playing regularly in Serie A for Genoa, but hasn’t yet nailed down a spot at Hull.
42. Samuel Amo-Ameyaw (Strasbourg): a Tottenham graduate who could fit into an experimental squad, but isn't taking a place in the real national team yet.
43. Matt Grimes (Coventry City): the captain has played nearly every minute in the Premier League for Coventry, but a call-up for him remains as distant as it was back in 2016 during the youth setup.
44. Adam Smith (Bournemouth): Smith will continue to fortify Bournemouth's right flank even during an apocalypse, but he will remain exclusively a club player.
45. Jacob Murphy (Newcastle United): Murphy had hoped for national team attention in 2025, having made the expanded list, but that opportunity has slipped by.
46. Dwight McNeil (Crystal Palace): the midfielder hasn't registered any assists in the Premier League since December 2025 and hasn’t scored since May the same year.
47. Jay Robinson (Monza): on loan from Southampton, he’s scored the only goal among all 13 English players in Serie A this season, but the competition is far too high.
48. Omari Forson (Monza): under Ivan Juric, he isn't seeing much more game time than he did under Ten Hag at Manchester United.
49. Matt Crooks (Hull City): three yellow cards in three Premier League matches show his willingness to battle, but it’s not at the national team level.
50. Ellis Simms (Coventry City): his solitary goal in the Premier League came too long ago to be considered by Tuchel.
51. Luke O'Nien (Sunderland): after being sent off in the 67th minute of the first match, his appearances in the Premier League have been limited to sitting on the bench.
52. Christian Walton (Ipswich Town): the 30-year-old keeper, who couldn't keep a clean sheet even against Leicester's reserves in the League Cup, faces an almost impossible task to break into the national team.
