Tuchel’s England Squad Decisions: Lankshear, Henderson, and New Talents
Thomas Tuchel names his latest England squad on Friday, and once again the conversation circles the same problem: who on earth backs up Harry Kane?
The captain has just collected the Ballon d'Or, leads the line for club and country, and rarely gives up a minute if he can help it. He is England’s record goalscorer, the heartbeat of Tuchel’s side and the first name on every team sheet. Being his understudy is one of the toughest jobs in the international game.
A Championship No 9 on England’s Radar
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been the man in reserve before and after the World Cup, and his form for Leeds has earned him repeated call-ups. But it has not quite taken under Tuchel. In the last window he managed only 15 minutes across two substitute appearances. Trusted, but not fully.
Tuchel has already flirted with a different solution, pushing Jude Bellingham into a more advanced role as cover for Kane. It worked in flashes. Yet in a shorter international window, with fewer training sessions and less time to experiment, the England manager might be tempted by something bolder: a pure No 9 with momentum at his back.
Step forward Will Lankshear.
The 21-year-old, who like Kane learned his trade at Tottenham, left Spurs for Middlesbrough in the summer in a £20m deal that raised a few eyebrows. It looks a bargain now. Lankshear has rattled in 15 goals in all competitions already this season, 13 of them in as many Championship games, dragging Boro to the top of the table and bullying experienced defenders on a weekly basis.
He only made his England Under-21 debut in the last international window – and scored. From a first Under-21 cap to a senior call-up in the space of two camps would be a dramatic rise, especially for a player who has never kicked a ball in the Premier League.
Tuchel knows all about him. With a shortage of orthodox centre-forwards across England’s age groups, Lankshear offers something rare: a penalty-box striker in form, with confidence and a clear identity. Tuchel has never shied away from a big decision. A Championship striker leapfrogging established names to sit behind Kane would be exactly that.
Henderson: Debate, Doubts and a Chelsea Revival
If Lankshear would be the wild-card pick, Jordan Henderson is the lightning rod.
The Chelsea midfielder has not featured for England since the World Cup, when a nasty fall over an advertising hoarding after the win over Mexico at the Azteca Stadium left him with a broken arm and serious questions about his international future. At 36, many assumed that was the final chapter.
Instead, his move from Brentford to Chelsea reopened the book. The London club wanted experience to guide a young squad; Henderson wanted to prove he still belonged at the highest level.
Since recovering from the arm injury, he has done exactly that. He has forced his way into the starting XI, stringing together five consecutive starts and scoring twice in a win over Bournemouth before injury ruled him out of Chelsea’s victory over Manchester United. Inside the club he remains a popular figure, trusted by staff and players, and his performances have matched his reputation.
His name on an England team sheet has often sparked fierce debate. Too old? Too safe? Blocking younger talent? Those arguments have followed him for years. But now, with Henderson playing regularly and effectively in west London, the question shifts slightly. If he is delivering every week in the Premier League, does his selection still feel like a controversy – or simply a logical call from a manager who values reliability in midfield?
New Blood: Dewsbury-Hall and King Knock on the Door
Beyond the headline names, some of Tuchel’s most intriguing decisions will concern players yet to win a cap.
Three potential debutants are in the frame, with 28-year-old Everton midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall among the most eye-catching. The Toffees’ No 10 has already turned down approaches from the Republic of Ireland, holding firm to his ambition of representing England. That choice looks less romantic and more realistic with every passing week.
He has been one of Everton’s standout performers this season, scoring twice and registering two assists in all competitions as Sean Dyche’s side climb to seventh in the league. Dewsbury-Hall has carried responsibility, dictated games and shown he can handle pressure. At 28, this is not a prospect pick; it is a reward-for-form decision.
Then there is Josh King at Fulham, a different type of case entirely. Just 19, King has already brushed the edge of the senior setup. He travelled to the United States as part of the preparation squad before the World Cup, working alongside Alex Scott, Ethan Nwaneri and Rio Ngumoha without making the final cut.
Since then, his stock has only risen. King has impressed for England Under-21s, showing maturity beyond his age and a calmness in possession that appeals to Tuchel’s control-heavy approach. The England manager admitted in his last news conference that King is close to a senior call-up. With another camp looming and a desire to refresh the squad, this might be the moment the door finally opens.
Palmer Under Scrutiny
One name sits awkwardly between the established and the emerging: Cole Palmer.
England’s medical staff have already checked on the Chelsea forward as Tuchel weighs up his inclusion. Palmer missed all four games in the previous international window with a minor injury, yet his club workload tells a different story. He completed 90 minutes for Chelsea against Brentford before that break and started the first game after it.
Tuchel did not hide his frustration in September, saying Palmer was “playing with discomfort and pain” and “missing too many opportunities” with England. The message was blunt. The door was not closed, but it was no longer wide open.
Even so, the fact that England’s medical team are again monitoring him underlines the reality: Palmer remains firmly in Tuchel’s thoughts. His creativity, versatility and ability to drift between the lines still fit the manager’s blueprint. Whether Tuchel believes he can trust Palmer’s body – and his decision-making in the final third – will be one of the defining questions when the squad to face Croatia and Spain is announced.
Big Decisions, Short Window
Two Nations League fixtures, a congested calendar and a squad in transition. Tuchel has choices to make.
Does he gamble on a Championship striker in Lankshear to solve the Kane conundrum? Does he lean on Henderson’s experience to steady the midfield? Does he reward Dewsbury-Hall’s persistence and King’s promise? And does Palmer get another chance to turn potential into production?
By Friday, England will have their answers. The real judgement comes when the whistle blows against Croatia and Spain.
