Elliot Anderson receives his first England call-up for the World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia, while Trent Alexander-Arnold is surprisingly omitted. Thomas Tuchel’s squad sees Anderson, Spence earn first call ups after impressive club form. Other absentees include Bellingham, Palmer, and Grealish, with Stones, Wharton, and Rashford returning. The squad aims to maintain their lead in Group K.
Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson has received his first senior England call-up, marking a significant milestone in his career. The call-up comes ahead of England's crucial World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia next month. However, the squad announcement also brought a surprise omission: Real Madrid's Trent Alexander-Arnold will not be part of the Three Lions squad for these upcoming fixtures.
England, currently leading Group K after a flawless start under manager Thomas Tuchel, will host Andorra at Villa Park on September 6 before traveling to face Serbia three days later. These matches are crucial for solidifying England's position as they aim to secure a spot in the next World Cup.
This international window marks Tuchel's third since taking charge of the national team in January. The inclusion of Anderson is undoubtedly the headline of this latest squad selection. Anderson's journey to the senior squad has been impressive. He joined Nottingham Forest from Newcastle United in a £35 million deal last July and quickly established himself as a key player in Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad. His contributions were vital as Forest secured a commendable seventh-place finish in the Premier League last season.
The 22-year-old was a consistent presence in Forest’s lineup, featuring in 37 league games. During those appearances, he scored twice and provided six assists, showcasing his attacking capabilities and creativity. Statistically, Anderson ranked highly among his teammates. He was fourth in chances created (37), second in successful passes in the opposition half (645), and second in tackles won (56), highlighting his all-around contribution to the team.
Anderson’s international journey has seen him represent both Scotland and England at various youth levels. He initially played for Scotland from the under-16s to under-21s and even received a call-up to Steve Clarke’s senior Scotland squad in 2023. However, an unfortunate injury forced him to withdraw from that squad. Subsequently, Anderson made the decision to switch his international allegiance to England, the country of his birth. He was a key member of the England squad that triumphed at the Under-21 European Championship earlier this year. During the tournament, he scored a crucial goal in the quarter-final victory over Spain and earned a well-deserved place in the Team of the Tournament.
Thoroughly deserved.
Elliot Anderson is called-up to Thomas Tuchel’s #ThreeLions squad. pic.twitter.com/Sq9cC7aE5B
— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) August 29, 2025
In addition to Anderson, full-back Djed Spence also earned his first senior call-up, rewarding his strong performances for Tottenham. Spence's inclusion reflects his impressive start to the Premier League campaign, where he has been a key figure in Tottenham's perfect start to the season.
The most notable exclusion from the squad is Trent Alexander-Arnold. Despite being a regular in Tuchel’s first two squads, the Real Madrid defender has been omitted this time around. Alexander-Arnold’s move to Real Madrid followed the expiration of his contract with Liverpool. Since joining the Spanish giants, his playing time has been somewhat inconsistent.
Alexander-Arnold started Madrid’s opening LaLiga game, a 1-0 victory over Osasuna. However, he was then relegated to the role of substitute for their recent 3-0 win against Real Oviedo. This inconsistent playing time may have influenced Tuchel’s decision to leave him out of the England squad.
Real Madrid teammate Jude Bellingham was already ruled out of the September internationals due to shoulder surgery. It remains uncertain whether he will be fit for the upcoming games against Wales and Latvia in October. Chelsea’s Cole Palmer is another absentee, having sustained an injury during the warm-up before Chelsea’s 5-1 victory over West Ham.
Other notable absentees include Jack Grealish, despite his impressive loan spell with Everton. However, there are recalls for John Stones, Adam Wharton, and Marcus Rashford. Rashford, currently on loan at Barcelona from Manchester United, had previously missed Euro 2024 but returned to Tuchel’s setup in March. However, he was not included in England’s most recent squad for a qualifying win against Andorra and a friendly defeat to Senegal.
Is there any better way to spend a birthday? pic.twitter.com/nnfjQz2bnV
— England (@England) August 29, 2025
The full England squad is as follows:
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), James Trafford (Manchester City)
Defenders: Dan Burn (Newcastle United), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Reece James (Chelsea), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), Tino Livramento (Newcastle United), Djed Spence (Tottenham Hotspur), John Stones (Manchester City)
Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa), Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace)
Forwards: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Noni Madueke (Arsenal), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)