Adam Wharton included in England squad for World Cup qualifiers, Alex Scott gets first call-up
Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton has been included in the England squad for this month’s World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Serbia while there is a first call-up for Bournemouth’s Alex Scott.
Wharton has played just once for England’s senior team — under former manager Gareth Southgate in June 2024 — featuring in a friendly against Bosnia & Herzegovina ahead of Euro 2024, where he was named in England’s squad but did not feature throughout the tournament.
Scott has been capped 11 times for England’s Under-21 side and has been a regular in Andoni Iraola’s in-form Bournemouth team this campaign, featuring in all 10 Premier League matches.
As revealed by The Athletic on Thursday, Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham returns after missing the October camp with Manchester City pair Phil Foden and Nico O’Reilly also included.
Bayer Leverkusen’s Jarell Quansah is also selected but there is no room for Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White, AC Milan’s Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins or Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly. In goal, Newcastle United’s Nick Pope is preferred to Manchester City’s James Trafford.
Thomas Tuchel’s side face Serbia at home on November 13 before a trip to Albania three days later.
Full squad
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Nick Pope (Newcastle United)
Defenders: Dan Burn (Newcastle United), Marc Guehi (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 (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), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
Wharton was called up by Tuchel for the September World Cup qualifying matches against Andorra and Serbia but did not report after suffering an adductor injury for Palace.
After being left out for the October fixtures against Wales and Latvia, Wharton said: “He (Tuchel) just gave me a message saying I’m playing well, I’m close and I deserve to be there, but he’s going to stick with the same team.
“That’s football, I’m not too fussed about that. It’s not the end of the world as there’s another camp next month (November).
“England have some top players and he’s got a lot of players to choose from. No matter who he picks, someone is not going to get in and there will be a fuss about it.
“I can’t sit here and cry about it, this is football and I’m happy playing for Palace and getting minutes and trying to do as well as I can and improve and if I get picked, I get picked.
“Everyone wants to play for their country if they get chosen but, like I said, this is football and he’s got plenty of top players to choose from and that’s what he gets paid to do, pick the team and help England do well. I’ll keep knocking on the door and if I’m in, I’m in and if not, I’ll carry on.”
In recent games, Tuchel had preferred a midfield pivot of Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson and Arsenal’s Declan Rice, with Brentford’s Jordan Henderson and Loftus-Cheek supporting them.
It remains to be seen whether Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon reports for duty after Eddie Howe revealed he is likely to miss the match at Brentford on Sunday with a hip injury.
The 24-year-old has been struggling with a hip issue this season, according to Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, and was forced off in the 41st minute of the 2-0 Champions League win against Athletic Club on Wednesday.
England’s 5-0 victory over Latvia on October 14 sealed their qualification for next summer’s World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Tuchel’s side are top of Group K with two games remaining, seven points clear of second-placed Albania.
Their group-stage opponents next summer will be revealed at the tournament draw in Washington D.C. on December 5.
