Tuchel leaves three players out of first Three Lions squad

Morgan Gibbs-White, Jarrel Quansah and Aaron Ramsdale have been left out of England’s squad to face Albania tonight.

Thomas Tuchel takes charge of his first England game at Wembley this evening and one of his first tasks has been to leave the trio out.

UEFA rules stipulate that only 23 players can be selected for a fixture, with the new England boss naming 26 in his first squad.

Nottingham Forest midfielder Gibbs-White was a late call-up to the Three Lions fold after being drafted in to cover for the injured Cole Palmer.

Both Liverpool defender Quansah and Southampton goalkeeper Ramsdale were included in Tuchel’s original selection but neither will play a part in England’s World Cup qualifying campaign opener.

The BBC are reporting that Harry Kane will captain the side at Wembley this evening with Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham both expected to start.

All eyes will be on who partners Kane in attack, with Phil Foden, Morgan Rogers and Anthony Gordon all pushing for a start.

Quansah’s omission should see Marc Guehi and Ezri Konsa selected in central defence, with Reece James competing with Tino Livramento and Kyle Walker for the right-back berth and Dan Burn and Myles Lewis-Skelly the options on the left.

Jordan Pickford is expected to retain his No1 shirt in goal but could face competition from in-form Crystal Palace keeper Dean Henderson.

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England squad to face Albania

Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), James Trafford (Burnley)

Defenders: And Burn (Newcastle United), Levi Colwill (Chelsea), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Reece James (Chelsea), Ezri Posa (Aston Villa), Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), Tino Livramento (Newcastle United), Kyle Wal

Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), Jordan Henderson (Ajax), Curtis Jones (Liverpool), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)

Forwards: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Marcus Rashford (Aston Villa, loan from Manchester United), Dominic Solanke (Tottenham Hotspur)

Tuchel: I want England to play with excitement

Excitement is building for Tuchel’s first game with England and the former Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund boss has been speaking about the kind of football he wants the Three Lions to play.

“I’ve heard a lot that it’s a heavy shirt. It is in fact not. But I know what the players mean,” Tuchel said in a news conference on Thursday.

“Watching the Euros I felt tension and pressure on the shoulders of the players and they were playing not to lose.

“I want us to play with excitement and the hunger and desire to win…and the acceptance of failure is part of it, especially in football.”