Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, Tottenham Hotspur’s Dominic Solanke and Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin have been the back-up options over recent years, and all three offer something slightly different, but Liam Delap’s displays for Ipswich Town this season, despite their struggles, should have thrust him into the conversation.

Thomas Tuchel has been working at home. But, before he starts work in earnest on the touchline for England, he has also been a regular sight in crowds across England and Europe and on FaceTime with his new players. His first England squad will be announced on Friday.

Thomas Tuchel will name his maiden England squad on Friday and there are a number of leftfield contenders for a spot in the group to take on Albania and Latvia at Wembley

Reece James will be hoping to receive a call-up from England head coach Thomas Tuchel this week. For the first time following his appointment, Tuchel will name his England squad for their 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia later this month,

Tuchel’s first England squad could be the most eagerly-anticipated announcement for years; perhaps the most unpredictable, too, given, while Gareth Southgate had the occasional tendency to surprise and axe big names, many of his selections were familiar and Lee Carsley borrowed heavily from his Under-21 team.

Thomas Tuchel texted four England players telling them he was watching their Premier League game as a major hint has been dropped ahead of this week's squad announcement. Tuchel has been tasked with leading a new England era after replacing Gareth Southgate.

And it would seem that a quartet from south London are going to make the cut after Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson revealed that Tuchel had contacted him and some of his teammate