England's Squad Surprise: Alexander-Arnold Returns, Foden Omitted

Gareth Southgate has never been shy of a big call. This one will sting.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alex Scott, Cole Palmer and teenager Rio Ngumoha have all been named in England’s squad for the upcoming Nations League fixtures – but there is no place for Phil Foden.

On form, reputation and influence at club level, Foden has become one of the pillars of the national side. To see his name missing from this list is the jolt that cuts through an otherwise progressive, forward‑leaning squad announcement.

Bold in midfield, ruthless in attack

The most striking theme is in the middle of the pitch. Southgate leans heavily into technical security and ball progression: Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice, Kobbie Mainoo, Elliot Anderson, Myles Lewis‑Skelly, Palmer and Scott. That is a group built to dominate the ball, not just survive without it.

Alexander-Arnold’s inclusion among the defenders underlines the point. Whether he is listed as a right-back or not, his selection is really about what he can do in possession – stepping into midfield, dictating tempo, threading passes between the lines. It is a tactical weapon as much as a defensive pick.

Scott’s call-up is another nod to the future. The former Bristol City and Bournemouth midfielder, now thriving under Andoni Iraola at Liverpool in this context, offers versatility, press resistance and a modern profile Southgate has increasingly favoured. He joins a cluster of young midfielders who can all receive under pressure and play forward quickly.

Palmer, meanwhile, has forced his way into the conversation by sheer weight of end product and personality. Whether he is used as a No 10, an inverted winger or a roaming creator, he gives England a player who wants the ball in the tightest areas and relishes responsibility.

Ngumoha’s leap into the spotlight

Then there is Rio Ngumoha. The Liverpool youngster’s rise has been rapid, and this call-up launches him into a different orbit. Andoni Iraola, who worked with Scott and now oversees Ngumoha at Anfield, praised both as “very deserved, very ready” for the step into the national set-up.

For Southgate, Ngumoha represents something England have craved for years: a fearless, direct wide forward comfortable in high‑level games, unafraid to take risks in the final third. In a forward line that already includes Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Gordon, Eberechi Eze, Dominic Calvert‑Lewin and Morgan Rogers, the teenager adds another dimension of unpredictability.

The flip side is the absence of Foden. When a squad is this stacked with attacking talent, even established stars become vulnerable. Southgate has chosen to reward form and balance over reputation, and that leaves one of England’s most gifted playmakers watching from home.

The full squad

• Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, James Trafford, Jason Steele
• Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jarrod Branthwaite, Trevor Chalobah, Marc Guehi, Lewis Hall, Ezri Konsa, Tino Livramento, Nico O’Reilly, Jarrell Quansah
• Midfielders: Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Kobbie Mainoo, Cole Palmer, Declan Rice, Alex Scott
• Forwards: Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Eberechi Eze, Anthony Gordon, Harry Kane, Rio Ngumoha, Marcus Rashford, Morgan Rogers, Bukayo Saka

A squad that points to tomorrow

Strip it back and the message is clear. This is a group tilted towards the next cycle as much as the next match. Youth, versatility, and technical quality run through it. Established names still anchor the spine – Pickford, Rice, Bellingham, Kane – but the supporting cast is shifting fast.

The Nations League will not define Southgate’s legacy. It will, though, reveal how brave he is prepared to be with a generation that keeps knocking on the door. With Foden on the outside this time, the stakes for those who have been trusted instead could not be sharper.