5 England stars who made their international debut under Thomas Tuchel

Thomas Tuchel will lead England out for a friendly against Wales tonight. Judgement is still being withheld on the German’s tenure in the Three Lions hotseat, but he has received praise for his propensity for giving groups of promising players their international debuts.

Today, we’ll look at five England players who have been given their debuts during Tuchel’s reign and examine how they might get on for their country moving forwards.

Dan Burn

By far the oldest player on the list, Newcastle United’s Dan Burn is a classic example of a ‘late bloomer’. Handed his debut for the Three Lions at the tender age of 32, he is among the oldest England debutants ever.

Nevertheless, Burn is more than a capable hand at the back. A no-nonsense defender who can also function as a left-back, Burn’s adaptability and good attitude make him a valued member of the squad.

Elliot Anderson

After spending years in Scotland’s youth system, Elliot Anderson opted to make the switch to represent his country of birth in 2024. A year later, he was given his first senior call-up by Tuchel. It wasn’t undeserved – he has been excellent at the heart of Nottingham Forest’s midfield.

He made his debut for England just last month and has been impressing audiences ever since. At Euro 2024, England suffered from a lack of quality depth in the middle of the park – but with Anderson and a few others in their ranks, this is no longer an issue.

Myles Lewis-Skelly

Arsenal starlet Myles Lewis-Skelly is a player who is operating at a level far beyond his years – therefore, it’s no surprise that Tuchel deemed him worthy of an England call-up at the age of just 19.

On a technical level, Lewis-Skelly is practically faultless. He may have some tempremant issues – he has already been sent off twice in his young career – but expect him to play a starring role for England in the years to come.

Trevoh Chalobah

Trevoh Chalobah has been a standout player at Chelsea this season, swiftly establishing himself as the Blues’ flagship centre-back. Having played for Tuchel during his time at Stamford Bridge, the England boss is already familiar with his abilities.

There is plenty of room for centre-backs in England’s national pool at the moment. With few quality options and plenty of aging legs, Chalobah could provide a suitable long-term answer to England’s worries in defence.

Djed Spence

Djed Spence is enjoying a breakout season at Tottenham Hotspur under Thomas Frank, following a few false dawns. A player of his quality was always going to be a success – he is perhaps England’s best right-back at the moment in terms of form.

If he can keep it up, there is no reason why Spence should not be England’s number one right-back. Trent Alexander-Arnold is struggling to find form at Real Madrid, Keiran Trippier isn’t getting any younger and Reece James is a constant injury worry. Spence is a phenomenal player at both ends of the pitch – it’s a shame it took this long for an England coach to have faith in him.

England play Wales this evening in a friendly game at Wembley.