Key Takeaways:
- Thomas Tuchel announced on Friday that Myles Lewis-Skelly is one of four players omitted from his 25-man England squad
- Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Morgan Gibbs-White, and James Trafford have also been left out after being ‘outperformed’ in their respective positions since the last international break
- Jude Bellingham returns to the squad on the back of strong performances for Real Madrid, while a new face has earned selection following impressive club and Under-21 form
England Squad Overhauled Ahead of Qualifiers
Thomas Tuchel finalised his 25-player roster for England’s upcoming World Cup qualifying fixtures against Albania and Serbia, with selection decisions made official earlier today. Having already secured qualification for next summer’s tournament, Tuchel has shifted attention towards squad competitiveness as preparations intensify for the finals.
"They got outperformed by Nico O'Reilly, Alex Scott, Nick Pope and Jude Bellingham"
"Myles [Lewis-Skelly] needs more minutes"Thomas Tuchel explains why Myles Lewis-Skelly, Morgan Gibbs-White, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and James Trafford have been left out 🏴 pic.twitter.com/x2Z46pv5Lw
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) November 7, 2025
Lewis-Skelly and Three Others Omitted Following Stiff Competition
Arsenal’s full back Myles Lewis-Skelly is a notable absentee from the Three Lions latest squad, as Tuchel followed through on his prior warning that the teenager needs to increase his involvement at club level. The England manager revealed that Lewis-Skelly, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Morgan Gibbs-White, and James Trafford have lost their places after rivals excelled in recent weeks.
Tuchel explained: “Myles was a very good team-mate and played for us in the last camp in the World Cup qualifier in Riga, so was Ruben Loftus-Cheek, so was Morgan Gibbs-White and James Trafford,” before going on to highlight the ever-present need for consistent top-level performances.
Tuchel named Nico O’Reilly, Alex Scott, Nick Pope and Jude Bellingham as players who have surpassed the omitted quartet in the current pecking order. Ollie Watkins’ absence was attributed solely to fitness concerns.
Player Appearances and Recent Form
Myles Lewis-Skelly has seen limited action with just 86 minutes in the Premier League this season, as Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta has often preferred Riccardo Calafiori at left back. The 19-year-old has managed only four starts – split evenly between the Carabao Cup and the Champions League. Elsewhere, James Trafford has lost his starting place at Manchester City to Gianluigi Donnarumma, while Nick Pope has maintained a regular role as Newcastle’s goalkeeper in both the Premier League and European competition.
Jude Bellingham’s reinstatement follows a string of influential displays for Real Madrid. Conversely, Morgan Gibbs-White’s output has diminished at Nottingham Forest, contributing only one goal and one assist in the Premier League, alongside a missed penalty during Forest’s Europa League draw against Sturm Graz on Thursday. Ruben Loftus-Cheek has not featured in the AC Milan starting line-up since September. Alex Scott’s performances for Bournemouth and his contributions to England’s Under-21 side this past summer have earned him a first senior call-up.
| Player | Club | Reason for Omission | Replacement(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Myles Lewis-Skelly | Arsenal | Outperformed, limited minutes (86 in Premier League, 4 starts overall) | Nico O’Reilly |
| Ruben Loftus-Cheek | AC Milan | Outperformed, no starts since September | Alex Scott |
| Morgan Gibbs-White | Nottingham Forest | Outperformed, poor form (1 goal, 1 assist in Premier League) | Jude Bellingham |
| James Trafford | Manchester City | Outperformed, displaced by Gianluigi Donnarumma | Nick Pope |
Looking Ahead
With England’s place at the World Cup secured, Tuchel’s squad selections reflect an emphasis on performance and ongoing competition for places as the countdown to the tournament continues.
