1 month ago
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A TRIO of uncapped players are in Lee Carsley’s final England squad before Thomas Tuchel takes over.
The Three Lions face Greece away next Thursday before the Republic of Ireland travel to Wembley on Sunday 17 November in the Nations League.
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Reuters
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England are in the midst of an injury crisis, with John Stones, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Kobbie Mainoo unavailable.
Declan Rice, Cole Palmer and Jack Grealish have all recently missed club games due to injury but are in the side.
Three uncapped players have been called-up in Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Lewis Hall and Curtis Jones.
Southampton defender Harwood-Bellis, 22, worked with Carsley at Under-21 level and has featured in all ten of the Saints’ Premier League matches this season.
The manager also knows Newcastle star Hall, 20, who comes in amid a shortage of left-backs.
Liverpool midfielder Jones, 23, is another with previous ties to Carsley.
He was called-up to the last squad but withdrew due to personal reasons.
On Harwood-Bellis and Hall joining the team, Carsley said: “They are both players who have played a lot of minutes this season and players I both know really well.
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“Taylor is a player I know, an outstanding Under-21s captain.
“Lewis is high quality. We have lots of competition at right-back but not the same challenges at left-back.”
England will be out for revenge against the Greeks after suffering a 2-1 defeat to them last month.
Greece have won all four of their Nations League matches this season and are top on 12 points.
England have nine points and this means Carsley’s side must win by two or more goals in Athens to boost their chances of topping Group B2 to avoid a play-off.
If teams finish level on points then head-to-head is the first criteria Uefa use to decide who is ahead.
The games against Greece and Ireland will be Carsley’s final two matches in charge before Tuchel starts his job on January 1.
Tuchel has had no say on this squad selection but will be watching both games with an eagle-eye.
Ahead of stepping aside, Carsley said: “I have really enjoyed it. It has been a massive honour to be given this opportunity.
“My focus was always on the games. People know how tough the job is without worrying about outside influences.”
On welcoming Tuchel, he added: “I have only messaged him on text and congratulated him.”
EPAANDY DILLON: Thomas Tuchel has all the ingredients to become a classic England manager – tactical nous, drive and a tangled love life
By Andy Dillon
THOMAS TUCHEL possesses all the ingredients to become a classic England manager.
Tactical nous, drive, energy, experience – a tangled love life.
English football should welcome back the most explosive, dynamic, charismatic and impossibly tall and gangly coach to have lit up the Premier League.
Chelsea’s colourful former boss has been leading a settled life in Munich of late.
Far enough away from ex-wife Sissi but close enough to see his two daughters.
Walking his dog in the streets in the east of Germany’s most fashionable city, residing in the posh Bogenhausen area. Living relatively quietly with his Brazilian girlfriend.
Tuchel is a vastly different personality to the man who led England quietly but assuredly to the brink of World Cups and European Championships.
An excitable nature can make him hard to handle for those seeking calm and who like to impose their way on a manager they view very much as an underling.
Read more on why Tuchel REALLY IS the best man for the England job
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