Wayne Rooney says he finds it hard to see how Jack Grealish can force his way into Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad after England’s victory over Serbia.
Goals from Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka saw the Three Lions run out comfortable winners at Wembley on Thursday evening to maintain their perfect qualifying record intact.
England have already secured their place at next summer’s tournament, but Tuchel opted to field one other strong starting XI, with few opportunities given to fringe players.
And despite an injury to Anthony Gordon, which saw the Newcastle winger withdraw from this camp, there stays no place in the broader squad for Grealish, who has not featured in an England shirt since Tuchel’s arrival.
The winger has found a brand new lease of life this season on loan at Everton, notching up five goal contributions in ten Premier League appearances, but has been unable to force himself back into the England set-up.
With just one international break left in March before Tuchel names his squad for next summer’s tournament in North America, Rooney believes that point may already be up for Grealish.
‘Jack Grealish may as well book his holiday for the summer now because he’s not getting within the squad,’ the previous England captain said on The Wayne Rooney Show.
‘You’re thinking that Andy Gordon dropped out and he still doesn’t get called into it, so I believe Thomas Tuchel is kind of set.’
Elsewhere, Rooney was surprised that Tuchel opted not to make use of this international break to supply opportunities to the strikers who could potentially provide back-up to Harry Kane next summer.
‘I believe this international break was the right opportunity simply to say to Harry Kane, ‘Go and have every week’s holiday’. He doesn’t should be ther,’ Rooney added.
‘He’d wish to be there but you should take that option away from him after which it’s a chance for Thomas Tuchel to have a look at players and see what they will do.’
While not naming one other traditional striker in his squad, Tuchel did experiment with a distinct option, deploying Phil Foden at the highest of the pitch as a second-half substitute for Kane against Serbia.
And the Manchester City star, who missed the primary two England camps of this season, excelled within the role during his 25-minute cameo and ultimately provided the assist for Eberechi Eze’s goal late on in the sport.
Speaking after the sport, Tuchel insisted he had ‘no problem’ continuing to make use of Foden in that role, adding: ‘If Phil stays in his shape and form, I even have no problem [playing him as a No 9]. I even have another options in mind that I are not looking for to debate in public.
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‘Don’t forget we have now Ollie Watkins and [Danny] Welbeck, [who are maybe] more No 9s, also different options to Harry.
‘We’ve got many options but it’s going to perhaps be about who’s in shape, what we have now within the squad and the way we share the minutes, who we play and what we expect from the match.’
Asked if Foden could even displace Kane within the central striker role, Tuchel added: ‘Well, it’s a giant ask to challenge Harry in the mean time – he’s in the form of his life. The attitude, the work rate, the standard and the ending ratio is just uncontrolled, out of this world.
‘But even here, perhaps [for Phil] to be an accomplice along with Harry and to share some minutes in decisive matches.’
Foden also saw the positives from his display, telling ITV Sport: ‘I believed I did well, created a number of probabilities and unlucky not to place a pair away. Overall, I even have to be pleased with the impact.
‘I’ll play wherever the manager puts me. I can play multiple positions and I used to be pleased to return on as a false nine. I enjoyed it. Perhaps it’s going to get the very best out of me, only time will tell.
‘There are quality players all around the pitch. I do know there’s pressure on me to perform at Man City and I just should keep my head down and earn my place. The smile is back.’
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