Jude Bellingham & Phil Foden Return to England Squad, with Surprise Inclusion of Alex Scott
Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden have been welcomed back into the England squad by manager Thomas Tuchel for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Albania. Alex Scott also receives a surprise first call-up, highlighting the depth of talent in the Three Lions' ranks.
Jude Bellingham has been recalled by England for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Albania. The Real Madrid superstar was left out of Thomas Tuchel's selection in October, amid questions of his character, but has been drafted back into the Three Lions fold for November internationals. Phil Foden has also been selected, while there is a shock first call-up for Alex Scott.Having undergone surgery on a long-standing shoulder complaint over the summer, no risks were taken on Bellingham’s fitness when the last England squad was named. He had limited game time under his belt with Real after returning to action. Questions were, however, asked of why Tuchel was prepared to overlook a talismanic part of his plans during an ongoing countdown to the 2026 World Cup.Tickets to that event have been safely secured, with the Three Lions making faultless progress through their group, and Bellingham will now be given another chance to add to his tally of 43 caps. Manchester City playmaker Foden will add further creativity to Tuchel’s ranks, while Bournemouth midfielder Scott is looking to make his senior bow.Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Nick Pope (Newcastle United)Defenders: Dan Burn (Newcastle United), Marc Guéhi (Crystal Palace), Reece James (Chelsea), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Nico O'Reilly (Manchester City), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Djed Spence (Tottenham Hotspur), John Stones (Manchester City)Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa), Alex Scott (AFC Bournemouth), Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace)Forwards: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona, loan from Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)Bournemouth star Scott has previously taken in 11 appearances for England’s U21 side, helping them to European Championship glory in 2025. His fine form at club level has been rewarded, as the Cherries sit fifth in the Premier League table.Barcelona loanee Marcus Rashford is included once again, as he rekindles a lost spark away from parent club Manchester United, while captain Harry Kane - with 76 goals to his name - continues to close in on Peter Shilton’s record haul of 125 caps.Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton is welcomed back into the fold and there is another opportunity for Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope to prove his worth having made the Three Lions’ World Cup squad in 2022.With Scott and Wharton being included, Nottingham Forest No.10 Morgan Gibbs-White is among those to drop out. He has found the going tough at the start of the 2025-26 season and is being freed to focus on rediscovering peak form at club level.Everton loan star Jack Grealish has failed to make the cut again despite enjoying a positive start to life on Merseyside after bidding farewell to Manchester City.Bayern Munich talisman Kane is the only recognised No.9 to be called upon, meaning that the likes of Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins and Al-Ahli frontman Ivan Toney miss out.England, who have taken maximum points through six World Cup qualifiers - keeping clean sheets in all of those contests - will play host to Serbia at Wembley Stadium on November 13. They will then travel to Albania three days later, with Tuchel in the enviable position of being able to rotate and experiment as he sees fit.
Jude Bellingham & Phil Foden Make England Comeback
After being left out of the previous England squad due to fitness concerns, Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham has been recalled to represent the Three Lions once again. Bellingham, who boasts 43 caps, will be eager to make an impact as England continue their faultless progress in the World Cup qualifiers. Manchester City's talented playmaker Phil Foden adds creativity to the squad, enhancing Tuchel's options in midfield.
Surprise Inclusion of Alex Scott
A shock addition to the England squad is Bournemouth's Alex Scott, who earns his first call-up to the senior team. Scott's impressive performances for the Cherries have been duly rewarded, as Tuchel looks to inject fresh talent into the squad. With 11 appearances for England's U21 side and success at the European Championship, Scott brings versatility and energy to the midfield.
Squad Overview: Notable Inclusions and Exclusions
The England squad features a mix of experienced campaigners and promising talents. Captain Harry Kane looks to add to his remarkable goal tally, while Barcelona loanee Marcus Rashford aims to rediscover his best form away from Manchester United. Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton makes a return, as Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope seeks to prove his worth once again. However, some players such as Jack Grealish miss out, emphasizing the competitive nature of international selection.
Upcoming Matches and Tuchel's Strategy
England, who have dominated their World Cup qualifiers so far, prepare to face Serbia and Albania in November. With a perfect record and a strong defensive record, Tuchel has the luxury to experiment and rotate his squad. The matches at Wembley Stadium and against Albania provide an opportunity for the manager to test different combinations and assess the depth of talent at his disposal.
