New England manager Thomas Tuchel has reportedly created a shortlist of 55 players as he decides upon his first national squad.
Following England's defeat at the hands of Spain in the Euro 2024 final, former manager Gareth Southgate announced that he would be stepping down from the role after eight years in charge.
After considering several options, former Chelsea boss Tuchel was announced as the new manager of the Three Lions, leading to speculation over which players would play a significant role in Tuchel's England team.
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Ahead of the German manager naming his first England squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifier matches, it has been reported that Tuchel has drawn up a shortlist of 55 players, with one notable omission.
According to respected journalist Henry Winter, Tuchel is confident about England's future in the build-up to the 2026 World Cup, and has already taken the time to personally contact the 55 players included in his shortlist to potential represent their nation at the tournament.
But one player who absolutely will not be representing England on the world stage, is former Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood.
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Writing on X, Winter confirmed that the FA’s chief executive, Mark Bullingham, confirmed that Greenwood will not be representing England ever again while speaking at the launching of the FA Strategy for 2024-2028.
“My understanding is he's asked to switch,” Bullingham said of Greenwood.
“That's happened formally, so he wouldn't be able to (represent England again) because you can only switch once. Gareth was upfront in that he (Greenwood) hadn't been in his thinking, because he hadn't been performing at that level. It (switching country) is a personal decision by him.”
Winter's report states that Greenwood officially requested to switch his national allegiance to Jamaica, and that the paperwork to do so was completed in January.
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The 23-year-old made 17 appearances for England's youth teams, but made only one senior appearance as a substitute in the 1-0 Nations League win over Iceland in September 2020.
During the same campaign, the forward was sent home alongside Phil Foden after breaching Covid-19 regulations in Iceland.
He was has since not been considered for selection following his arrest in January 2022 on suspicion of attempted rape, engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
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Greenwood was later charged in October 2022, with the charges discontinued by the CPS the following February.
Topics: England, Mason Greenwood, Thomas Tuchel, Jamaica, Gareth Southgate, Phil Foden, Football, FIFA World Cup, Football World Cup
Ben McCrum