Trent Alexander-Arnold and Eberechi Eze out as surprise zero-cap star picked in England World Cup squad

With the 2026 World Cup now less than six months away, Ally McCoist and Jeff Stelling have had a crack at picking their England squad.

Now, they’ve made some interesting picks with some huge players missing out, showing the strength in depth that Thomas Tuchel has.

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The discussion centred around Jamie Carragher‘s England squad.

The former Liverpool defender and Sky Sports pundit made his selection for the Three Lions on Monday Night Football.

And on talkSPORT Breakfast, sports broadcaster Katie Shanahan went through Carragher’s team by position, with McCoist and Stelling giving their opinion.

For the main part, they agreed, but there are some key changes that would lead to a very interesting squad.

Goalkeepers

Starting with the goalkeepers, Carragher indicated that Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson and James Trafford would go.

However, Stelling can’t see Trafford being on the plane and is backing Nick Pope instead.

He said: “James Trafford is not going. It’s as simple as that. He can’t get a game at Manchester City. I know you could say you are taking him for experience, but you can’t do that just in case, and you’ve got Nick Pope.”

Since re-joining from Burnley in the summer, the 23-year-old has only made three Premier League appearances, with Gianluigi Donnarumma taking his place as number one.

Meanwhile, despite the presence of Aaron Ramsdale and a few mistakes, Pope is still the Newcastle United number one and has international experience.

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Defenders

Regarding the defenders, there are some certainties, but one player McCoist and Stelling can’t see being on the plane is Trent Alexander-Arnold.

The Liverpudlian’s transfer to Real Madrid hasn’t worked out he envisioned with injuries and lack of game time disrupting his time in Spain so far.

He has played just once for Tuchel and not since leaving Liverpool.

In his place, Manchester City’s Nico O’Reilly has been pipped.

The Englishman has starred on the left of City’s defence and would add some real physicality to the backline.

The duo also don’t feel as if Luke Shaw will be going.

McCoist said: “I don’t think he’ll take Trent. I think Nico O’Reilly will go in place.

“I am not sure he’ll take Luke Shaw either.”

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Regarding centre-backs, Carragher elected to leave John Stones out, but McCoist does believe that the Man City star will be on the plane.

When fit, Stones has been a key player for England for a long time, but again, injuries have seen him play just seven Premier League games.

So, it’s understandable why some people wouldn’t have him.

McCoist said: “I think John Stones will go, although, I think it is a massive punt because of his injury record.”

And following his return to the Manchester United XI, the Breakfast duo are backing Harry Maguire as well.

On that one, Stelling said: “Harry Maguire is the interesting one here. He hasn’t been able to get back into the Manchester United team, and now, he’s back in the England squad? I think he should be, and it’s a reward for his perseverance, and buckling down.”

Maguire is a player with major tournament experience, who has usually performed very well for England, so it seems a no-brainer to take him as long as he’s playing well for Man United.

Midfielders

The central midfield options available to Tuchel feel as if they are locked in.

Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson have emerged as the favoured pair for the Three Lions in the heart of the midfield.

Stelling feels as Kobbie Mainoo has a chance, but there will be no Adam Wharton.

“If Kobbie Mainoo performs week in and week out for Manchester United – yes.

“But it’s two games back in the side, having been out in the cold completely. I still think, he’s got to show it consistently, and Adam Wharton might find himself on the outside.”

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Jordan Henderson‘s inclusion has caused a lot of debate, but Tuchel told talkSPORT last year just how important he is, and as a result, he looks to be nailed on.

Stelling said: “I think he is a certainty. Thomas Tuchel clearly likes him. Clearly likes his influence on the squad, and he has shown at Brentford this season, he’s no backup. Brentford are a different side when he’s in the team.”

But the shock call from McCoist and Stelling was to include James Garner.

The Everton midfielder is quietly having a very good season for the Toffees, and it has led to growing suggestions that he should be in the England team.

It is something David Moyes has spoken about, and despite having no caps, Stelling and McCoist feel he should be heading to North America.

Stelling said: “I would like to see James Garner because he’s had a phenomenal season. Now, I am not sure who he would replace, but I’d like to see him.

“He’s had a fantastic season.”

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Forwards

Obviously, Harry Kane‘s place in the squad is undeniable as captain.

But there is still going to be another striker going, and in the Breakfast duo’s eyes, it is a three-way battle between Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Ollie Watkins and Danny Welbeck.

On that discussion, McCoist said: “I am talking about ones that are there, and Welbeck certainly comes into the equation. He was brilliant at Old Trafford the other week, so you are talking Welbeck, Calvert-Lewin and Watkins.

“Watkins would just shade it for me, at this moment in time.”

Of those three, Calvert-Lewin has the most Premier League goals this season with nine, but Watkins and Welbeck aren’t far behind with eight each.

The discussion then moved onto the attacking midfielders and wingers.

The consensus was that Morgan Rogers starts, and that Phil Foden also makes it, but McCoist doesn’t think the Man City man will be starting.

“I am not sure he starts, but I think you’ve got him in your squad because he’s a potential match-winner. In forward areas, you’ve got to take players like that.”

However, Stelling isn’t totally sold on Foden due to his poor England record.

In 47 caps for the Three Lions, he has scored four goals and delivered numerous poor displays, which is Stelling’s point of view.

“But he hasn’t for England. His record for England is really poor, and I love him as a footballer.

“He’s in a bad streak of form at the moment, but in the first half of the season, he was brilliant.”

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But, for Stelling, there are more question marks over Cole Palmer than Foden.

After delivering a stunning performance to win the Club World Cup for Chelsea, the attacking midfielder has endured a frustrating campaign.

Groin issues have plagued him and prevented the England international from playing multiple games in a week.

He’s only scored from open play twice in 12 Premier League appearances, so it isn’t hard to see why his place in the squad is being questioned despite his undoubted talent.

Stelling said: “I would say there is more than of a question mark over Cole Palmer because he’s shown precious little, and he’s been injured a lot, and he looks a bit unsettled, so I would say there is more of a question over him than Foden.”

But the one man that they both want to see is Jarrod Bowen, while there is no place for Eberechi Eze.

Eze’s game time has drastically reduced at Arsenal in recent times, with Mikel Arteta preferring Martin Odegaard and even Mikel Merino over the former Crystal Palace star.

And in his place, there is a huge clamour for Bowen.

McCoist said: “I think Jarrod Bowen has got a real case. I really think he’s got a case. He scores goals, makes goals. You look at Saka at this moment in time, Anthony Gordon…

“Bowen’s return in terms of goals and assists means he’s got a real case.”

McCoist even believes that the West Ham United captain is more reliable then some of Tuchel’s other options.

“Coaches and managers look for players they can rely on: Foden, Saka, Palmer – brilliant football players, but can you hang your hat on them? Probably not, but I think Bowen guarantees you a level of effort and performance greater than those players.

“I am not saying that, on their day, they are not better players, but if you are looking for somebody that is seven-and-a-half, eight out of ten, that’s Jarrod Bowen.”