England Men's Football Team

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter at St George's Park

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United youngster Shea Lacey got a glimpse into the future when he was called into training by England coach Thomas Tuchel this week.

Lacey was one of a number of young players asked to help out with preparations for England's friendly victory over Wales on Thursday.

He then reverted to under-20s action for the 1-0 defeat by Switzerland at St George's Park on Friday.

"It's a good experience for them," said England Under-20 coach Ben Futcher.

"It is where they want to get to, so they can feel how difficult it is and how good those seniors are. It is good for them to see it, feel it and be part of it."

Lacey is still feeling his way back into the game after an extended period on the sidelines last season with a thigh injury.

The 18-year-old was a major threat before half-time, with his pace and balance causing the Swiss defence problems.

Servette goalkeeper Aubert Marwan did well to keep a couple of Lacey efforts out before the Liverpudlian was replaced after an hour.

"We have looked after Shea and helped him get some minutes," said Futcher.

"He is a top talent, has reconnected with the group and I thought he performed really well.

"I am sure Manchester United have a good plan for him. Hopefully he can stay injury free and fulfil that potential."

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter at St George's Park

Image source, Getty Images

England Under-20 boss Ben Futcher praised the performance of goalkeeper Tommy Setford following the 1-0 defeat by Switzerland at St George's Park.

Setford has been a regular member of England's age group squads and made his senior debut for Arsenal against Preston in the EFL Cup last season.

The 19-year-old was in England's Under-19 European Championship squad last summer but has suffered a number of niggling injuries in recent months, the latest forcing him out of a Premier League 2 game against Brighton in August.

Setford was outstanding against Switzerland, making a string of excellent saves despite finishing on the losing side.

"He had a fantastic game," said Futcher. "When he had to make saves he did and his distribution is good.

"It is good to get him back into an England shirt and playing. He is a pleasure to work with.

"He will be being looked after by some excellent people at Arsenal. Hopefully he can go back to his club and keep developing."

Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

Image source, Getty Images

Thomas Tuchel has made it clear he is picking an England team, not individuals. He even stated: "We are not collecting the most talented players. We are trying to build a team. Teams win trophies, no-one else."

Jude Bellingham's superstar status meant Tuchel's selection was laced with risk, even though it was shaped by common sense as the midfielder had only started one game for Real Madrid following shoulder surgery.

He may have wanted to be included, but on this occasion Tuchel was happy to do without Bellingham, keeping faith with the players who produced the best result and performance of his reign by winning 5-0 against Serbia in the World Cup qualifier in Belgrade.

And, to add further credibility to Tuchel's decision-making process, England's outstanding player against Wales was Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers, excelling in Bellingham's number 10 role, as he did in Belgrade.

Rogers, on the evidence of England's past two games, is fast becoming the poster boy for the new identity Tuchel wants to create.

And if Tuchel's measure is applied, the England shirt is now Rogers' to lose, with a further opportunity to cement his place against Latvia in Riga on Tuesday.

In the Villa man, Tuchel is getting a symbol for the way he wants to progress.

The powerful 23-year-old set England on the way with his first international goal after only three minutes, a neat finish swept in from close range. He then helped set up the second for Villa team-mate Ollie Watkins eight minutes later.

Rogers also hit the bar in the second half before being substituted to a standing ovation after 69 minutes.

He played 24 passes, 19 successfully, creating two chances as well as scoring his goal.

Tuchel said: "Morgan is what he is. He is a number 10 and he is competing for his place. He is in a good way.

"We are ready for any team effort. We created a lot of chances. We could use Harry Kane all the time, but we need to play without Harry and Jude - the guys are injured."

Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson is another beneficiary of Thomas Tuchel's willingness to look outside the usual inner circle of England stars, producing a third successive top-class display in Thursday's 3-0 friendly win over Wales.

He is used to being at the heart of the action for Forest where, according to Opta, he has completed the most passes in the opposition half (244) and won possession most (47) in the Premier League this season.

Against Wales, Anderson's constant demands for the ball and his ability to keep England ticking over were hallmarks of his quality. He played 77 passes, 74 successfully, created two chances and regained possession six times.

Tuchel added: "Morgan [Rogers] and Elliot are humble players and very talented and that is a very good mix."

The German can now move forward from a position of strength, even stronger than after the win in Serbia, to the World Cup qualifier in Latvia on Tuesday.

And it will deliver a sharp reminder to Jude Bellingham and others that Tuchel is determined to tread his own path towards next summer's World Cup - with or without the Real Madrid midfielder.

Declan Rice says he is enjoying his "adjusted" role so far this season which he is occupying for both Arsenal and England.

"I think now I'm more of a box-to-box number eight," he said after captaining the Three Lions in their 3-0 friendly win over Wales.

"The manager has adjusted my position at Arsenal a bit this year to give me a bit more freedom to drop deeper but to also get in the box when I can and it's the same with Thomas [Tuchel].

"That really suits me on the left side of midfield, being able to get back, be an all-round action midfielder, [which] is what I want to be.

"I'm just enjoying my football and it's another season where we have started strong with England and with a team at Arsenal. Hopefully there's positive things coming."

Rice has a goal and three assists already for the Gunners this season and is enjoying working under both Tuchel and Mikel Arteta.

"I have two managers that lay it out really easily with the gameplan in what I have to do and where I have to be," he added.

"I'm the one that has to go and execute it.

When you have confidence in football you feel unstoppable at times and I think I ended the season really strong last year.

"I probably didn't start the first one or two games of this year, of this season, as good as I wanted but I have picked up my form now.

"I feel really strong, I feel fit, I feel really confident in my game. Hopefully the only way is up from here with England and Arsenal."

Did you know?

• Thomas Tuchel is the third manager to win as many as six of his first seven games in charge of England after Glenn Hoddle (1996-1997) and Sven-Goran Eriksson (2001 - both also six).

• England scored three goals inside the opening 20 minutes of a match for the first time since November 1987 against Yugoslavia (Peter Beardsley, John Barnes and Bryan Robson).