THOMAS TUCHEL PREPARES ENGLAND SQUAD FOR CROATIA AND SPAIN MATCHES

Thomas Tuchel is due to announce England’s squad on Friday morning for their final two Nations League group matches against Croatia and Spain. England host Croatia on Thursday before travelling to Madrid to face Spain on Sunday. England enter the November international break with three wins and one defeat from four Group A3 matches. A point from either remaining fixture would secure a place in the quarter-finals in March.

England beat Croatia 7-0 in Rijeka last month and lost 3-2 to Spain at Wembley in September after leading 2-1. Cole Palmer withdrew from September’s squad, while Declan Rice missed the last camp to manage his workload. Liverpool’s Rio Ngumoha earned his second and third senior caps as a substitute against the Czech Republic after making his debut against New Zealand this summer. Everton’s James Garner, Jarrad Branthwaite and Jordan Pickford also received call-ups for that international break.

Marcus Rashford has not played for Manchester United since mid-October and has a hip injury. Michael Carrick said on Monday before United’s victory over Roma: “Marcus, we will just have to see day-by-day how he keeps improving”. Djed Spence has returned to fitness and started Inter Milan’s last two matches. Anthony Gordon, who moved from Newcastle to Barcelona in the summer, has argued that England should pursue alternatives to Spain’s possession-based style.