Fikayo Tomori overtaken by uncapped Serie A rival in race for England World Cup spot

Lloyd Kelly has been tipped for a shock 2026 World Cup call up with fellow Serie A star and England international Fikayo Tomori snubbed.

That is according to European football expert Andy Brassell with just one more squad to be announced in March, before Thomas Tuchel names his final World Cup 2026 selection in June.

Getty

Kelly, who was club captain during his time at Bournemouth between 2019 and 2024, has never made a senior England appearance.

But that could be about to change if he continues his impressive career turnaround from a ‘marriage of convenience’ to a stalwart of new Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti’s charge for the top four. 

Brassell said: “If I was imagining one of them ending up in the England squad and challenging for a place in the England XI in the next year, I would say Lloyd Kelly ahead of Tomori.”

When quizzed on why he favours the Juve man, Brassell added: “Lloyd Kelly is quietly growing into the defender he looked like he would always be at Bournemouth and the defender I guess that Eddie Howe thought he was signing for Newcastle.

“Tomori’s really good and you can tell he loves defending. I just think he’s (Kelly) a bit better on the ball, he’s a bit stronger.”

Kelly has benefited from a much more positive environment at Juventus, since the club parted ways with former manager Igor Tudor and Spalletti arrived in October 2025.

Brassell said: “Juventus went into the last transfer window really looking for anywhere to dump him.

“But under Spalletti he’s been a different player on the left side of the back three.

“He’s been really, really good. What I like about him is his technique and his poise on the ball has been brilliant.”

In comparison to Kelly who made the move from Premier League to Serie A in 2025, Tomori has been steadily making a name for himself in Italy, since he made his move to AC Milan in 2021.

Getty

Getty

But Kelly’s rise to prominence could come at just the right time to make Tuchel’s final squad, with Brassell adding: “I feel Kelly is good enough to play for any of the the top five or six in Italy. He’s been a real success at Juventus.”

If Kelly did muscle his way into the England manager’s plans, it would represent a real rags to riches story. 

His career looked to be hitting a brick wall, when Newcastle’s PSR problems meant he was forced out of St. James’ Park after making just 10 appearances for the Magpies.

But his rebirth in Turin this season has seen him make 19 of a possible 22 starts.

Tuchel will be sweating on the fitness of John Stones, the form of Harry Maguire and whether to include Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah.

Man City’s new man Marc Guehi and Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa appear the only two certainties for a World Cup call-up at centre-back.

That may mean the net is cast further afield with Bayer Leverkusen’s Jarrell Quansah in the mix with Serie A duo Kelly and Tomori.