Thomas Tuchel hints at first England squad with message to four Premier League stars

Thomas Tuchel will name his first England squad on Friday – with four Crystal Palace players well-placed to be included.

A new era for the Three Lions is about to begin with Tuchel set to make his debut in the dugout on March 21 in a World Cup qualifier against Albania at Wembley.

Though some key players like Bukayo Saka will miss out through injury, the former Chelsea manager has plenty of talent to pick from and has drawn up a 55-man shortlist which will have to be cut in half.

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 teammates over the weekend.

‘I’ll be honest, I’d love to play for England this time around, I’d love to get a cap, another cap. I’m chasing that – it’s one of my goals,’ the 27-year-old said.

‘He [Tuchel] texted before the game, [the 1-0 win against Ipswich on Saturday] and it’s nice to know that he’s watching. He wrote he’d be at the game and be in the stands watching, just wished me all the best.

‘He did, alongside Adam [Wharton], Marc [Guehi] and Ebs [Eberechi Eze] as well, so it’s nice to know he’s watching.

‘All I can do is control what I can control – that’s my job for the team, and the way the manager wants me to play; showing up in big moments, which I have been doing, I’m really enjoying it. It’s the best football I’ve played in the last couple years, because I’m playing a lot.’

Henderson, who has only been capped twice since his first call up to the England squad in 2019, was certainly in great form against Ipswich, making six saves to keep his ninth Premier League clean sheet of the season.

Curiously, the former Manchester United keeper, did not mention fellow Palace and England stars Tyrick Mitchell and Ben Chilwell, and it would be a surprise if they were not also under consideration for Tuchel.

The German knows Chilwell from his time at Stamford Bridge and with the Three Lions not blessed with many left-back options, a call up for both him and the in-form Mitchell ought to be on the cards.

Despite only recently returning from injury, Wharton is likely to be in the squad after another brilliant performance against Ipswich, with the midfielder linked with a big money move to Man Utd, Arsenal and Real Madrid.

‘He’s took it all in his stride, to be fair, he’s been great. He’s come back in and been great for us the last couple games,’ Henderson said of the 21-year-old.

‘Hopefully that can continue and he can push us as high up the league as possible. I am impressed, but I also expect it from a player like that as well.

‘He’s got quality, and obviously we know how much of a miss he’s been at certain times this season. I sort of expect it off him, because he’s just a down-to-earth lad who’s a top footballer and you see it every day.

‘He’s been great, and he’s a top player. There’s no ceiling for him – credit to him, because it is very difficult coming back from injuries.’

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