England squad: Elliot Anderson and Djed Spence earn first call-ups for Andorra and Serbia qualifiers

Anderson and Spence called up as England target six points in September

Two new names, a handful of big omissions, and a clear message: places are up for grabs. Thomas Tuchel has named his 24-man England squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia in September, promoting Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson and Tottenham’s Djed Spence to the senior setup for the first time.

England, who lead Group K in the 2026 European qualifying cycle, host Andorra at Villa Park on Saturday, September 6 at 5pm BST. They then fly to Belgrade to face Serbia on Tuesday, September 9 at 7:45pm BST. The group meets at St. George’s Park after the weekend’s domestic fixtures to prepare.

Anderson’s rise has been swift but hard-earned. He stood out during England’s Under-21 European Championship win in the summer and made the tournament’s best XI. He’s carried that level into the new Premier League season with Forest—energetic out of possession, tidy on the ball, and brave in tight spaces. Tuchel likes his engine and clean passing. In a squad hit by injuries in attacking midfield, Anderson brings legs and control in the middle third.

Spence’s inclusion leans into pace and one‑v‑one defending out wide. He offers a direct outlet at right-back and can push high when England have territory. With Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kyle Walker omitted, the Tottenham full-back gets a chance to show he can balance front-foot pressing with recovery sprints against teams that break quickly.

There’s a broader thread here. Both players come through Lee Carsley’s successful Under-21 pathway, which has delivered back-to-back European titles. The step up is not ceremonial—Tuchel has made it clear that performances for club and country at youth level can turn into minutes for the seniors, especially when the schedule is tight and injuries bite.

The 24 selected, the notable omissions, and the plan for Andorra and Serbia

Here’s the squad by position as England begin a short camp before a home-and-away swing that should test rotation and resilience:

• Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, James Trafford, Dean Henderson
• Defenders: Reece James, Marc Guehi, John Stones, Dan Burn, Ezri Konsa, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Tino Livramento, Djed Spence
• Midfielders: Elliot Anderson, Morgan Gibbs-White, Jordan Henderson, Adam Wharton, Morgan Rogers, Declan Rice
• Forwards: Harry Kane (c), Eberechi Eze, Jarrod Bowen, Anthony Gordon, Noni Madueke, Marcus Rashford, Ollie Watkins

Marcus Rashford returns after missing the summer window with injury, giving England direct power on the left and an option to run in behind off Harry Kane’s link play. John Stones is back too, fully fit after a thigh issue. His calmness under pressure and ability to step into midfield should help England control tempo on the road in Belgrade.

There’s a first Tuchel-era inclusion for Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton, whose measured passing and poise between the lines hint at a deep-lying role next to Declan Rice. Wharton’s presence, alongside Anderson and Morgan Gibbs-White, suggests a more technical core, especially for the Andorra match where England will face a low block and long spells of possession.

The omissions will fuel debate. Trent Alexander-Arnold is out, as are Kyle Walker and Phil Foden—big calls in any window. Leicester striker Ivan Toney misses out too, despite his penalty pedigree and aerial threat. Jack Grealish and Harry Maguire remain on the outside looking in. Tuchel is backing form and availability over reputation, and he’s spreading minutes across players who fit specific roles for these two opponents.

Injuries have taken a chunk out of England’s top-end creativity. Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer, and Levi Colwill are unavailable. That shapes how England will build attacks. Without Bellingham’s surges, England may lean on Eze between the lines and Gordon’s width to stretch compact defenses. Against Serbia, where transitions will be sharper, the team will look for quick release balls into Rashford and Bowen to turn defenders and win territory early.

The venue matters. Villa Park offers a tight, loud stage for a game England are expected to control from the first minute. Expect rotations, early subs if the job gets done, and opportunities for debuts. Belgrade is a different test—hostile, fast, and physical. A clean sheet and calm passages of play will be the priority. Set pieces could decide it, which puts extra focus on delivery from Eze and Gibbs-White and the aerial presence of Stones, Burn, and Konsa.

How might England line up? Versus Andorra, Tuchel could opt for a 4-3-3 designed to pin back the full-backs and attack the half-spaces:

• Pickford; Spence, Stones, Guehi, Burn; Rice, Anderson, Gibbs-White; Bowen, Kane, Gordon

That setup gives Anderson a debut platform as a box-to-box option, with Bowen’s runs and Gordon’s width forcing the back line deep. Spence’s overlaps would keep the right flank active while Rice shields and recycles.

Against Serbia, the balance might tilt toward ball security and counter-pressing:

• Pickford; Reece James, Stones, Konsa, Burn; Rice, Wharton; Eze; Rashford, Kane, Gordon

Here, Wharton partners Rice to stabilize midfield. Eze links play, with Rashford primed to break into space behind the back four. James provides delivery and control on the right side out of possession.

One under-the-radar angle is the role of the bench. Ollie Watkins gives a different look up front—runs across the line, relentless pressing, near-post darts. Noni Madueke offers left-footed dribbling from the right to unsettle deep blocks. Tino Livramento can switch sides if the game state demands more thrust from full-back late on. Morgan Rogers brings direct carry and shots from the half-space.

Tuchel’s midfield options tell a story about balance. Rice is the anchor. Jordan Henderson brings experience in game management—slowing or speeding play, reading pressure. Anderson and Wharton add energy and simple, forward-minded passing. Gibbs-White supplies disguised through-balls and set-piece quality. The mix should help England move between patterns depending on the opposition: patient circulation against Andorra, quicker diagonals and third-man runs against Serbia.

Defensively, Stones’ return is the hinge. With Stones next to Guehi or Konsa, England can step into a back three during build-up, letting the full-backs push on without leaving the center too open. Dan Burn’s height is a weapon at both ends, particularly on corners and free-kicks. If Spence starts, his recovery pace will be vital to snuffing counters before they become shots.

Fitness is the quiet variable. It’s early in the club season, which means some players are still building rhythm. The medical and conditioning staff will manage workloads in training at St. George’s Park—a lighter Monday, tactical sharpness on Tuesday, set pieces and scenarios on Wednesday, with Thursday’s session used to finalize roles before a brief activation on matchday-eve. Fresh legs matter as much as the first XI in a two-game window.

There’s also a leadership thread running through this group. Kane sets standards with movement and finishing, but watch Stones and Rice for on-field direction. Eze and Gordon lead with the ball by taking responsibility in tight spots. For debutants, the message is simple: play your club game, do your job, and the rest takes care of itself.

Andorra present what they always do: a stacked box, time-wasting when possible, and a few counters if you get sloppy. The challenge is to set a fast tempo and keep it. Serbia will test England in the air and on set pieces. Win the first contact and the second ball, and limit turnovers in the middle third—do that, and the chances for Kane and Rashford will come.

Full 24-man squad recap:

• Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, James Trafford, Dean Henderson
• Defenders: Reece James, Marc Guehi, John Stones, Dan Burn, Ezri Konsa, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Tino Livramento, Djed Spence
• Midfielders: Elliot Anderson, Morgan Gibbs-White, Jordan Henderson, Adam Wharton, Morgan Rogers, Declan Rice
• Forwards: Harry Kane, Eberechi Eze, Jarrod Bowen, Anthony Gordon, Noni Madueke, Marcus Rashford, Ollie Watkins

Two matches, six points on the line, and a pathway for new faces to stake a claim. Anderson has the legs and touch to fit right in. Spence has the tools to turn defense into attack in seconds. If England manage the minutes and keep their edge, this window can both bank points and broaden the core ahead of the tougher tests to come.