Thomas Tuchel is set to name his England squad for matches against Spain and Croatia as the Three Lions bid to reach the Nations League quarter-finals. It will be the final squad he names for 2026, with plenty of debate and questions surrounding which players have won over the former Chelsea and Bayern Munich manager.

He selected 27 players for the October break, though Phil Foden continued to be left out and Cole Palmer controversially withdrew. Tuchel did not hold back on his opinion of the Chelsea superstar, who has played every Premier League game for his club this season.

"For sure it's a missed opportunity [for Palmer]," Tuchel said last month. "It's another missed opportunity. He misses too many opportunities, and I don't blame him for it. It's just the fact.

"If you're not in camp, there's a next level to impress that you cannot achieve because you only can do it when you're actually with me on the pitch and with us on the pitch so, yeah, it is a missed opportunity."

So, our Express Sport writers have been tasked with naming our 27-man squads for the upcoming international double-header...

Amos Murphy

Welcome back, Jordan Henderson! Against all odds, the ex-Liverpool and Brentford ace has impressed in the middle of the park for Chelsea.

Meanwhile, Phil Foden's recent return to form could give him a look in after missing out on the last two squads. Archie Gray is a versatile option at the back, while Cole Palmer is another player who is fit and firing once again.

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Jason Steele, James Trafford

Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jarrad Branthwaite, Trevoh Chalobah, Marc Guehi, Lewis Hall, Ezri Konsa, Archie Gray, Nico O’Reilly, Jarell Quansah

Midfielders: Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Kobbie Mainoo, Cole Palmer, Declan Rice, Jordan Henderson

Forwards: Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Eberechi Eze, Anthony Gordon, Harry Kane, Rio Ngumoha, Phil Foden, Morgan Rogers, Cole Palmer

Tom Victor

With a few injuries and a few players off-form, now could be a time for Thomas Tuchel to reward a couple of young men who have impressed domestically. Josh King and Trey Nyoni have both stood out in the Premier League this term and, with Alex Scott out and Adam Wharton struggling, could be worth a gamble.

Cole Palmer and Phil Foden stay on the sidelines for me, with neither doing enough to force their way back in, while I’ve left out Ebere Eze for a couple of others who can more effectively give the team some width.

Some concerns remain at the back thanks to injuries to a few experienced players so I’m giving Jarrad Branthwaite another shot after his pair of substitute appearances in the last break and including both Ben White and Jarell Quansah as options on the right or in the middle.

Goalkeepers: James Trafford, Jordan Pickford, Carl Rushworth

Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jarell Quansah, Ben White, Marc Guehi, Jarrad Branthwaite, Ezri Konsa, Nico O’Reilly, Lewis Hall

Midfielders: Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Kobbie Mainoo, Morgan Gibbs-White, Josh King, Trey Nyoni

Forwards: Harry Kane, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Dominic Solanke, Morgan Rogers, Anthony Gordon, Rio Ngumoha, Noni Madueke

Jack McEachen

An incredible array of talent in the middle of the pitch means first call-ups for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Josh King and James McAtee. Deserved rewards for their scintillating seasons so far.

And to guide them through such a momentous occasion is the returning Jordan Henderson, who has surprised many by fitting into the Chelsea team so seamlessly.

But his clubmate Cole Palmer doesn't get back in. Thomas Tuchel was furious after he pulled out of the squad last time and the manager has to lay down the law. You can't pick and choose when to play for your country.

Phil Foden joins him in the cold, having only impressed in short spells for Manchester City.

Josh Acheampong is in for the first time, however, having made considerable progress under Xabi Alonso. Marc Guehi has made a few high-profile errors, so there is a starting spot to be taken by either the Chelsea youngster or Jarrad Branthwaite.

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Carl Rushworth, Dean Henderson

Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ben White, Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi, Jarrad Branthwaite, Josh Acheampong, Lewis Hall, Nico O'Reilly

Midfielders: Elliot Anderson, Kobbie Mainoo, Declan Rice, Jordan Henderson, Jude Bellingham, Josh King, Morgan Gibbs-White, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, James McAtee

Forwards: Noni Madueke, Rio Ngumoha, Harry Kane, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Morgan Rogers, Anthony Gordon, Eberechi Eze

Charlie Malam

The highlight picks of my squad are three new call-ups. In goal, Coventry's Carl Rushworth is a worthy competitor to James Trafford for the No.1 spot once Jordan Pickford is done. Let him get used to the set-up so he can be at least third choice for Euro 2028.

In defence, Josh Acheampong is a massive talent and has done well for Chelsea this season. He can play at centre-back and right-back, which is handy with Reece James, Djed Spence and Tino Livramento unavailable.

In midfield, Archie Gray is another versatile young player. He has shown maturity for an improving Tottenham, even captaining the club twice this season, and deserves a spot.

Rushworth, Acheampong and Gray might not get minutes against Croatia and Spain but it would be nice recognition of their development and their potential for the future to bring them into the fold.

Elsewhere, Trent Alexander-Arnold gets another call-up despite being in and out of the starting line-up at Real Madrid. With Adam Wharton struggling for form, James Garner replaces the injured Alex Scott.

The attack is largely the same but Noni Madueke replaces the injured Bukayo Saka while Cole Palmer returns.

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, James Trafford, Carl Rushworth

Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Josh Acheampong, Jarell Quansah, Ezri Konsa, Jarrad Branthwaite, Marc Guehi, Lewis Hall, Nico O'Reilly

Midfielders: Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice, Kobbie Mainoo, James Garner, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Morgan Gibbs-White, Archie Gray

Forwards: Harry Kane, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Anthony Gordon, Morgan Rogers, Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke, Rio Ngumoha, Eberechi Eze