Thomas Tuchel told to call up English talent who Liam Rosenior developed into title winner

Theo Walcott, Trevor Sinclair and Steve Bull.

The inclusion of all three players left fans and pundits gobsmacked by their unlikely call-ups to England’s World Cup squads of the past.

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However, the trio had minimal impact on England’s hopes of landing the famous trophy in 2006, 2002 and 1990 respectively.

But as Thomas Tuchel’s side attempt England’s next shot at World Cup glory this summer could there be a fourth name added to the list?

In what could be a surprise to Premier League watchers, those of a French persuasion are likely to view an international call up for Lyon midfielder Tyler Morton as inevitable.

The 23-year-old has taken Ligue 1 by storm since arriving at the Groupama Stadium from Liverpool last summer in a £15million deal.

Morton joined the ever-growing band of English talent to try their hand across the channel and alongside teammate Ainsley Maitland-Niles has quickly found a home with the seven-time French champions.

Lyon’s notorious ‘Bad Gones’ Ultras group has taken him to their hearts as have the French media despite their best attempts to humorously navigate around his strong Merseyside accent.

Who is Tyler Morton?

A traditional no.6 by trade, Morton has performed impeccably and has quickly become the driving force behind Lyon’s improved domestic form and their table-topping exploits in the Europa League.

Morton has featured 15 times for Lyon since his arrival, scoring once while providing a solitary assist.

And while his trajectory is undoubtedly huge, some of that can be attributed to his time working under newly-appointed Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior.

Morton enjoyed a successful loan spell with Rosenior’s Hull during the 2023/24 campaign before returning to Anfield as the Reds landed the Premier League title last season.

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However, the midfielder’s bold move to leave Liverpool to further develop his career has so far paid off as Rosenior testified when his ex-Strasbourg side slipped to a 2-1 defeat at Lyon in October.

Ready for the step up

According to European Football expert and keen Lyon observer Andy Brassell, Morton has what it takes to break into the England fold.

“He’s had a fantastic season so far,” Brassell told talkSPORT. “He found it so hard to chisel a role at Liverpool, despite his obvious talent, and there’s no shame in that.

“Liverpool were an unbelievable team last season. To have an opportunity to not just be platformed at one of the biggest clubs in France, but also the whole process of signing him, really.

“In terms of him breaking into the England team, I guess medium term I could see him doing that, because I think he’s good enough. Especially because the logjam in the England team is in the attacking part of the midfield.

“You imagine Morton, even though he can play past it to break the lines, that he would be in that deeper role.

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“I think the biggest issue for him, if we’re talking about getting in the England squad, is Adam Wharton.

“If you’re looking at the player in the current England squad that’s most like Tyler Morton, I’m not saying they’re exactly the same, but in terms of that sensible shuttling midfield player who can link play, who can keep it moving, who can break up opposition counter-attacks quickly – that’s Adam Wharton.

“Physically they’re very similar in every way.”

Taking the leap

Morton’s path to Lyon wasn’t exactly a well-trodden one particularly for a young English prospect considering the club’s phenomenal record of developing future global stars through their academy.

However, it was Lyon boss Paulo Fonseca who did everything in his power to persuade Morton to try his hand in Ligue 1 by instantly installing him as a key figure in midfield.

“Paulo Fonseca pinpointed him as the player he wanted to make his midfield tick right at the beginning of the window,” Brassell added.

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“Fonseca sold him on the vision. He said, ‘you know, you are going to be running my team.’

“I need a midfielder who is exactly like you, with your qualities,who can never lose the ball, who can keep the ball moving, who can make tackles when he needs to, when we’re about to get turned over.

“And I think it made Morton feel special. He has been made to feel special as well by the reception of the fans, by the fact that the other players were born to him really quickly, partly because of his personality, but partly because he does such a vital job for the team.

“When Fonseca said, this is the guy that’s going to make my team click, he wasn’t joking.

“He had a plan for him and he’s fulfilled every point of that plan, just as Morton has fulfilled everything that he was meant to do by his play, by his commitment, by his willingness to get stuck in.

“It’s been complicated for Lyon at points, of course. They’ve lost a lot of forward players. Some of that great play of his has been unrewarded.

“They’ve played better than the results would suggest at times, even though they’re on the cusp of the Champions League places after their win at Monaco at the weekend.

“And again, a really good display from Tyler Morton, again, in a huge game to go away and win at Monaco.”