Decisions Lee Carsley Needs to Make for England

Lee Carsley promises to make changes in his first England squad selection.

The beginning of a new chapter for the England national team, which could be either brief or long-lasting, will kick off next month. Carsley has temporarily stepped away from the U21 team to lead the squad in UEFA Nations League matches against Ireland and Finland. He emphasized, “It’s important that we make our mark on the team.”

After eight years of Gareth Southgate’s leadership, Carsley must prove that he can successfully follow in his predecessor’s footsteps. Although he has been appointed as interim manager, Carsley is treating this as a permanent position, with plans extending to the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Having secured England’s first U21 European Championship in 39 years, Carsley may call up some young players. However, a major decision will be which veteran players to exclude.

Kieran Trippier did not have a good EURO 2024, despite playing out of position at left-back, and his season at Newcastle has not started well. He is at risk of being dropped. Kyle Walker will be 36 by the time of the World Cup, posing another decision for Carsley.

Jack Grealish, who missed out on the EURO squad after limited playing time at Manchester City towards the end of last season, has played only 19 minutes this season, against Premier League newcomers Ipswich. Ben Chilwell, who has fallen out of favor at Chelsea, is unlikely to be considered by Carsley.

Marcus Rashford might be absent, though his Manchester United teammate Harry Maguire, who missed the EURO due to injury, is likely to return to the squad.

Among younger players, Carsley might give an opportunity to 21-year-old Newcastle full-back Tino Livramento. Rico Lewis, 19, has started the season well with Manchester City and would be a surprise omission if not selected. Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers and Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White are also in contention. Liverpool’s Curtis Jones, who scored the decisive goal against Spain in the U21 EURO final, also has a strong chance. On the other hand, there is still no clarity on the future of Ben White. He left the 2022 World Cup midway for personal reasons, and there was reported tension between White and assistant coach Steve Holland. While Southgate had previously called up White, the player himself declined.

FA Chief Executive Mark Bullingham has stated that the search for a new permanent manager is ongoing. However, Carsley has a significant chance of being retained if he performs well in the upcoming matches. He turned down the Ireland job last year and will have Ashley Cole as his assistant. Joleon Lescott and Tim Dittmer will also be part of the interim backroom staff.