Jack Grealish to pounce if Marcus Rashford falters - 3 England players under axe threat before the World Cup
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(Credit: Imago)
Jack Heath
Thu 4 September 2025 19:00, UK
England are gearing up for their next two World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia but some are at risk of losing their place in the England squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Thomas Tuchel‘s latest England squad selection features prospective debuts for Tottenham‘s Djed Spence and Nottingham Forest‘s Elliot Anderson.
Despite a stunning start for Man City loanee Jack Grealish at Everton, the 29-year-old failed to make the German’s list as the former Aston Villa wide man builds up match fitness.
Football Insider considers the weaklings of the Three Lions most recent squad selection who are at risk of losing their spot in a heartbeat if they perform poorly or dip at club level.
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(Note: injured players as of 4 September 2025 will not be considered)
With 83 appearances and three goals for England, John Stones is one of the most reliable and experienced players on offer for Tuchel.
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Yet, injuries have been a major concern for the former Everton defender as he has failed to complete at least half of the last two Premier League seasons.
The Barnsley academy graduate has started all three of the opening games in the English top-flight but he is always one game away from another injury-induced absence.
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Trevoh Chalobah on the other hand is one of the country’s rising central defenders who has nailed down a starting role at Chelsea against some adversity.
The 26-year-old is imperious at the back with speed and agility, fitting the bill for what is demanded of a modern day centre-back.
Moreover, Tuchel already gave Chalobah his England debut back in June, suggesting the German may see the Blues reliable defender as a long-term replacement for Stones.
(Credit Imago)
The 27-year-old secured a potentially career-saving move to Barcelona after being thrown out by Ruben Amorim at Man United.
Marcus Rashford spent the second half of last season on-loan with Aston Villa which was semi-successful, notching four goals and five assists in 17 appearances.
Injury towards the end of the campaign saw the United academy graduate miss out on the summer internationals.
However, being called up for the second time by Tuchel does not necessarily suggest the Blaugrana number 14 will be guaranteed a spot on the plane to North America for the 2026 World Cup.
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His main threat is the revived dynamic figure of Grealish who has exploded to life on-loan with the Toffees.
The number 18 fell out-of-favour under Pep Guardiola but this new move has sparked the 29-year-old back to life, delivering four assists in three starts in all competitions.
Rashford should be quaking in his boots and the prospect of a fit and firing Grealish marching his way to take his rightful England spot back.
If Hansi Flick is not impressed by his new left-winger, I’m sure the Barcelona manager will be having words with his compatriot Tuchel which could influence his World Cup selection.
Jack Grealish Everton all competitions 2025-26 as of 30 AugustAppearances (starts)4 (3)Minutes played256Goals0Assists4(Source: Sofascore)
The 84-capped lion has been a dependable asset under Sir Gareth Southgate for several major tournaments.
Jordan Henderson spent last year with Ajax in The Netherlands, falling just short to win the league title, summing up his football trajectory towards the latter stage of his career.
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Now at Brentford the former Liverpool skipper has made an average start to his return to the Premier League, opening the possibility he could be dropped form the Three Lions squad.
Step forward Conor Gallagher who is currently tearing it up in Spain under Diego Simeone at Atletico Madrid.
There had been previous bad relations between the 25-year-old and the German manager after the then Chelsea boss blocked the midfielder from playing in the 2021-22 FA Cup semi-final.
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This hinted towards the ex-Crystal Palace engine not being considered by Tuchel for England, a speculative idea that was destroyed when Gallagher featured against Senegal over the summer.
Unanimously, the former West Brom powerhouse is far better than the ageing Henderson and should steal his spot come the final selection for the 2026 World Cup.