Myles Lewis-Skelly and Everton star among three England fringe players who should start vs Spain
Myles Lewis-Skelly is one of three fringe England stars who should be given the chance to impress against Spain this weekend.
Thomas Tuchel has some big selection decisions to make as England aim to recover from their post-World Cup blues at Wembley on Saturday.
The toughest test in football right now stands ahead of his players as world champions Spain visit for the opening fixture of their Nations League A campaign.
Tuchel's job has been made tougher by the likes of Cole Palmer, Marcus Rashford and Declan Rice pulling out of the squad earlier this week through injury and fitness concerns.
He will likely hang his hat on the usual suspects like Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham to guide the Three Lions to victory, but may well spring a surprise with some picks in the starting eleven.
The new cycle of fixtures after a major tournament usually allows managers a chance to mix things up and bed future stars into the team, with Tuchel surely set to follow suit.
Myles Lewis-Skelly, James Trafford and Trent Alexander-Arnold backed for England starts
Lewis-Skelly deserves a spot in the side alongside Elliot Anderson in midfield in the absence of club teammate Rice.
The 19-year-old has started in the middle of the park in four of Arsenal's opening five PL games, with Mikel Arteta rueing resting him last time out as they were well beaten by Brighton.
He has more experience of big occasions than the likes of James Garner and Alex Scott, so should be picked to face up to the likes of Pedri and Fabian Ruiz on Saturday.
James Trafford is a controversial pick, but now feels like as good a time as ever for Tuchel to hand him the chance to make the number one spot his own.
Jordan Pickford endured a tough World Cup, conceding eight goals in seven games and producing a lacklustre save percentage of 65.2.
New Leeds signing Trafford has outperformed the Everton stopper's save percentage (87% to 83%) in the Premier League this season, and boasts better long passing and high claim stats.
It seems like the logical next step to at least give the 23-year-old a chance to prove himself in a high-pressure encounter over Pickford as he stakes a claim to be number one for Euro 2028.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is more established for his country than the two aforementioned players, but this is only the second time that he has made a squad under Tuchel.
The 27-year-old is the only recognised right-back in the latest group after Tino Livramento pulled out through injury, with Jarell Quansah also able to feature there if needed.
He has impressed for Real Madrid at the start of this campaign and will have key insight on the likes of Alex Baena, Ferran Torres and Mikel Oyarzabal, who could each play on the left wing for Spain at Wembley.
The ex-Liverpool star deserves to be given the chance to prove to the manager that he can be a regular for the Three Lions again after spending so long out in the cold.
Tuchel could be sacked if Nations League fixtures go badly
While some fans may dismiss the four Nations League games that England face in the coming weeks as glorified friendlies, they are going to be hugely important to Tuchel.
He came under fire with fans and pundits for how the Three Lions bowed out of the World Cup, and more poor results will increase the pressure on the FA to relieve him of his duties.
Sources have exclusively revealed to Football Insider that Eddie Howe is in the frame to be the next England boss if Tuchel is sacked.
His position is clearly not safe, despite being handed a contract extension to 2028 before the World Cup, and some defeats in the coming weeks may well see him out of a job.