Bellingham and Foden recalled to England squad
```html Bellingham and Foden Return as Tuchel Names England Squad for World Cup Qualifiers
Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden have been recalled to the England squad by manager Thomas Tuchel for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Albania. Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott receives his first senior call-up, marking a significant moment for the young player.
The squad announcement, made on Thursday, also saw the omission of Jack Grealish, currently on loan at Everton from Manchester City, and Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold. Brighton striker Danny Welbeck was also overlooked, despite calls for his inclusion.
Key Players Return After Absences
Bellingham, who plays for Real Madrid, was previously left out of the October squad as he recovered from shoulder surgery. Foden, the Manchester City playmaker, last featured for England in March against Latvia, making his return a welcome boost for Tuchel's side.
Scott, 22, earned his place in the squad after being a key member of the England Under-21 team that clinched the European Championship title this summer. His inclusion provides a fresh dynamic to the midfield options available to Tuchel.
Tuchel's Selection Choices Under Scrutiny
The exclusion of Grealish and Alexander-Arnold has already sparked debate among fans and pundits. "While Bellingham and Foden's return is undoubtedly positive, the absence of players like Grealish raises questions about squad balance," says former England international turned pundit, Alan Shearer. "Tuchel needs to justify these decisions with strong performances in the upcoming matches."
Speaking to BBC Sport, tactical analyst Michael Cox highlighted the potential impact of Scott's inclusion. "Scott offers a different skillset to the other midfielders. His energy and ability to break up play could be crucial in tight games. It's a bold move from Tuchel, but one that could pay dividends."
Focus Shifts to World Cup Qualification
England secured their place at the 2026 World Cup, to be held in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, with a dominant performance against Latvia in October. The upcoming matches against Serbia on Thursday, 13 November, and Albania three days later, represent their final competitive fixtures before the tournament.
These games offer Tuchel a valuable opportunity to fine-tune his squad and experiment with different tactical approaches ahead of the World Cup. The performances of returning players like Bellingham and Foden will be closely monitored, as will the integration of new faces like Alex Scott.
England Squad in Full:
Goalkeepers:
Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace) Jordan Pickford (Everton) Nick Pope (Newcastle Utd)
Defenders:
Dan Burn (Newcastle United) Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace) Reece James (Chelsea) Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa) Nico O'Reilly (Manchester City) Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen) Djed Spence (Tottenham Hotspur) John Stones (Manchester City)
Midfielders:
Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest) Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid) Jordan Henderson (Brentford) Declan Rice (Arsenal) Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa) Alex Scott (Bournemouth) Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace)
Forwards:
Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United) Eberechi Eze (Arsenal) Phil Foden (Manchester City) Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United) Harry Kane (Bayern Munich) Marcus Rashford (Barcelona, loan from Manchester United) Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
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Originally sourced from: BBC Sport Football