Alan Shearer names Premier League star who is ‘very unlucky’ to miss out on Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad

Alan Shearer has named one Premier League star that he believes was ‘very unlucky’ to miss out on Thomas Tuchel‘s first England squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, which was revealed on Friday.

There were some notable returning faces, new names and absentees, with Jordan Henderson and Marcus Rashford each earning their first national team selections in over a year.

Myles Lewis-Skelly was also named in his maiden Three Lions squad while Newcastle’s Dan Burn, 32, was included for the first time, as Mail Sport exclusively forecasted.

But there was no room for Morgan Gibbs-White in Tuchel’s inaugural squad, despite his bright form for Nottingham Forest this season, who lie third in the table and in contention to play Champions League football next season.

Nuno Espirito Santo‘s No 10 has netted five goals and registered seven assists in the Premier League this term, but was still overlooked for the Three Lions’ World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia.

Shearer argued that Gibbs-White should have made the squad, especially in light of the inclusion of other players that he believes did not do as much to earn a spot.

On Friday, Thomas Tuchel named his first England squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers 

Gibbs-White has scored five goals and provided seven assists in the Premier League this term

‘He is very, very unlucky not to be in the England squad, when you look at other players who are, when you look at his performances this season,’ the former Newcastle striker told Match of the Day.

‘He’s been one of the outstanding players Nottingham Forest. But if keeps on playing the way he is, and there’s no doubt that he can do, he’ll be in the England squad in the future. I’ve got no doubt about it.’

Gibbs-White made his senior England debut on in August 2024 after being called up by interim boss Lee Carsley, and was named in back-to-back squads under the Irishman.

But he will have to wait until the summer for his next opportunity to don an England shirt. 

As for the rest of Tuchel’s squad, Kyle Walker retained his place in the back line after his move on loan to AC Milan, despite struggling for form this season. Meanwhile, Reece James will hope to make his first England outing since March 2023.

Levi Colwill, Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa, Tino Livramento, Jarell Quansah, Burn, and Lewis-Skelly completed the defence. 

In midfield, Cole Palmer kept his place despite recent scrutiny, while Jude Bellingham, Eberechi Eze, Declan Rice, Curtis Jones, and Henderson joined him. 

There was also a spot for Morgan Rogers, who made his first two appearances in England colours against Greece and Ireland off the bench in November.

Another notable absentee was Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins, who shined at Euro 2024

Meanwhile, Marcus Rashford and Jordan Henderson earned their first call-ups in over a year

Harry Kane is expected to lead the line, and worked with Tuchel at Bayern Munich last season to great effect.

Phil Foden, Anthony Gordon, Jarrod Bowen, Dominic Solanke, and Rashford complete the forward line. 

There were lots of notable absences, some of which can be put down to injury. Bukayo Saka, Harry Maguire, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kobbie Mainoo, Lewis Hall, and Noni Madueke were among those to miss out with either confirmed injuries or fitness concerns.

Tuchel did speak to England exile Ben White, who is fit again following a three-month lay off after knee surgery, but the Arsenal star is not in his squad, having only played 102 minutes since November. There was no indication of how their conversation went.