Wayne Rooney names England star who won’t make Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad after Serbia win

Wayne Rooney says he finds it hard to see how Jack Grealish can force his way into Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad after England’s victory over Serbia.

Goals from Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka saw the Three Lions run out comfortable winners at Wembley on Thursday evening to keep their perfect qualifying record intact.

England have already secured their place at next summer’s tournament, but Tuchel opted to field another strong starting XI, with few opportunities given to fringe players.

And despite an injury to Anthony Gordon, which saw the Newcastle winger withdraw from this camp, there remains no place in the wider squad for Grealish, who has not featured in an England shirt since Tuchel’s arrival.

The winger has found a new lease of life this season on loan at Everton, notching up five goal contributions in ten Premier League appearances, but has been unable to force himself back into the England set-up.

With only one international break left in March before Tuchel names his squad for next summer’s tournament in North America, Rooney believes that time may already be up for Grealish.

‘Jack Grealish may as well book his holiday for the summer now because he’s not getting in the squad,’ the former England captain said on The Wayne Rooney Show.

‘You think Andy Gordon dropped out and he still doesn’t get called into it, so I think Thomas Tuchel is quite set.’

Elsewhere, Rooney was surprised that Tuchel opted not to use this international break to provide opportunities to the strikers who could potentially provide back-up to Harry Kane next summer.

‘I think this international break was the perfect opportunity just to say to Harry Kane, ‘Go and have a week’s holiday’. He doesn’t need to be ther,’ Rooney added.

‘He’d want to be there but you need to take that option away from him and then it’s an opportunity for Thomas Tuchel to look at players and see what they can do.’

While not naming another traditional striker in his squad, Tuchel did experiment with a different option, deploying Phil Foden at the top of the pitch as a second-half substitute for Kane against Serbia.

And the Manchester City star, who missed the first two England camps of this season, excelled in the role during his 25-minute cameo and ultimately provided the assist for Eberechi Eze’s goal late on in the game.

Speaking after the game, Tuchel insisted he had ‘no problem’ continuing to use Foden in that role, adding: ‘If Phil stays in his shape and form, I have no problem [playing him as a No 9]. I have some other options in mind that I do not want to discuss in public.

‘Don’t forget we have Ollie Watkins and [Danny] Welbeck, [who are maybe] more No 9s, also different options to Harry.

‘We have many options but it will maybe be about who is in shape, what we have in the squad and how we share the minutes, who we play and what we expect from the match.’

Asked if Foden could even displace Kane in the central striker role, Tuchel added: ‘Well, it’s a big ask to challenge Harry at the moment – he’s in the shape of his life. The attitude, the work rate, the quality and the finishing ratio is just out of control, out of this world.

‘But even here, maybe [for Phil] to be an accomplice together with Harry and to share some minutes in decisive matches.’

Foden also saw the positives from his display, telling ITV Sport: ‘I thought I did well, created a few chances and unlucky not to put a couple away. Overall, I have to be happy with the impact.

‘I’ll play wherever the manager puts me. I can play multiple positions and I was happy to come on as a false nine. I enjoyed it. Maybe it will get the best out of me, only time will tell.

‘There are quality players all over the pitch. I know there is pressure on me to perform at Man City and I just have to keep my head down and earn my place. The smile is back.’

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