Tuchel's news conference as Foden & Bellingham return – BBC

Follow and watch live coverage as Thomas Tuchel names his latest England squad
Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden back in England squad – as Tuchel says he's 'delighted' to welcome them both back – full squad here
Tuchel says he doesn't see Foden as a winger anymore, hopes Scott can 'prove them right' and Bellingham returns as a number 10
Tuchel also addresses his own future with his contract ending after next year's World Cup: 'It's a lot of fun'
What are the key headlines from Tuchel's latest squad announcement?
Who's in? Pope, O'Reilly, Bellingham, Scott, Wharton and Foden
Who's out? Trafford, Lewis-Skelly, Gibbs-White, Loftus-Cheek and Watkins
England face Serbia and Albania in their remaining World Cup qualifiers, having already clinched qualification to next year's tournament last month
Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say
Your reaction to: Alex Scott's call-up | Jordan Henderson's selection | Danny Welbeck's omission | Phil Foden's recall
Written by Craig Nelson & Adwaidh Rajan.
England
Right, this page is about to end, but before we go let's have a reminder of the players who DID make Thomas Tuchel's squad…
Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporter
Do you know John, Thomas Tuchel only really spoke about the players he picked and was not asked any direct questions about those he left out.
But he did say that the door is always open, so you never know…
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Jack Grealish is a wonderful winger and forward, why is he being left out again.
John
England
There was a lot of information to take away from Thomas Tuchel's news conference today.
Here are the key points raised and questions answered by the England head coach:
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Saw Scott and Anderson together in the U21s in the summer and I'm delighted to see Scott getting recognition. The control they had together was fantastic and can only help drive the standards higher from Rice, Bellingham, Henderson etc.
Jack
England v Serbia (Thu, 19:45 GMT)
England
More from England manager Thomas Tuchel on Anthony Gordon: "He gives intensity, hunger and physical input that is very rare to find and helps us a lot to build a team identity that we need. He puts the effort in and he is relentless.
"We are aware he has been subbed twice for minor issues. We are in close contact with the Newcastle medical staff on a very trustful and professional level.
"We decided to call him up and my last information is that we have a chance he will come to the camp and we will take care of him.
"We will not take any unnecessary risk. Players' health is always first."
Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporter
It's hard to argue with you on that point Gary but it sounds as if Thomas Tuchel is thinking outside the box – pardon the pun – on this one.
He mentioned Phil Foden, Anthony Gordon, Marcus Rashford and even Jude Bellingham as potential number 9s.
Tuchel also effectively said that Ollie Watkins was being given a chance to regain full fitness and had not been dropped because of a lack of form.
So Watkins seems to remain as his number one choice for back-up to captain Harry Kane.
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Very surprised that Danny Welbeck hasn’t been selected for these two fixtures, he’s by far the best in-form English striker in the Premier League so far this season, without any doubt at all in my opinion.
Gary
England v Serbia (Thu, 19:45 GMT)
England
More from England manager Thomas Tuchel on whether he knows his World Cup squad yet: "I have a settled mind but I will also be open because I know anything can happen. You don't wish for injuries but it can happen in short notice.
"My thoughts now is more for the camps for September, October and November. But my thoughts for the World Cup will then start after this camp and the qualification phase is over. This was an important cycle for me and this is the third part of the cycle, so it's not finished. This is where all the attention goes now.
"Then comes the March camp. I think it's important for me to reconnect after these three camps with all 55-60 players on the long list and be in close contact and see them, meet them and text them. This will be my job to do and then we will have the phase in March which could be even busier for some of our players and their clubs.
"We have to stay open-minded because young players can come through – those who are struggling for minutes can play important roles for their clubs. I need to make sure the door is always open and they are on their toes and they have a chance to be with us.
"The final nomination is only in May and until then, anything can happen."
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Interesting to see Tuchel sees Foden and Bellingham as 10s. Does he see Palmer as a 10 or a right-sided player? Surely two of Palmer, Jude, Saka and Foden aren't starters then?
Jeuel
England v Serbia (Thu, 19:45 GMT)
England
England manager Thomas Tuchel on whether he has thought about carrying on after the World Cup: "Yeah, there is. It's a lot of fun since we are on track in the last two camps. But it was from the start. But there's nothing to announce at the moment.
"I am very happy with the way things are going and I think the federation is quite happy with the way things are. But that's just today.
"I have to prove myself again from Monday with the team and the rest will take care of itself. The most important thing is to stay focused for the next camp.
"I am in a good place mentally because I love the team, the support from the federation and the direction where it is heading. That's the main focus.
"Having thought so much about my contract, but we have time for that."
Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporter
Phew, that was an intense 30 minutes or so.
Thomas Tuchel has stopped talking now after another frank, honest and informative news conference.
He lives little to the imagination.
We now know that Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham will be used in central positions. Whether that is together or in competition for the same role, we will see.
Stick with us as we continue to bring you more of his quotes, and you can also follow reaction using the 'watch live' play icon at the top of this page.
England v Serbia (Thu, 19:45 GMT)
England
More from England manager Thomas Tuchel on whether captain Harry Kane needs a break: "Yeah, but not in November. Given the fact that he has a break in winter. He's in a nice position to play in Germany and suits him to have the break given where he is in his career. That's why he has no excuses for the next two matches."
England v Serbia (Thu, 19:45 GMT)
England
Thomas Tuchel said his serious thinking about the World Cup would not start until after this camp.
He says it will be important to reconnect with all 60 players on the long list in the run up to his next squad selection in March.
The England coach added that he would have to stay open-minded about players who could come through and that the door is always open for every player.
Until May, when his World Cup squad will be confirmed, Tuchel says "anything can happen".
More to follow.
England v Serbia (Thu, 19:45 GMT)
England
More from England manager Thomas Tuchel on Ollie Watkins: "No one needs to be nervous [about lack of number nines], we have a lot of good strikers, Ollie is one of them. We understood and observe when we watched Ollie that he's playing through discomfort at the moment and it simply didn't make much sense to bring him into this camp in this condition.
"We then opted for the option to give him this break to get treatment and get back to full physical capacity and best shape to fit for the place again in March.
"We don't have a clear number nine profile behind Harry [Kane] but given different scenarios, Anthony Gordon plays there for Newcastle. Marcus Rashford plays there for Barcelona.
"Phil Foden can also play a very fluid number nine in this camp. We have enough options to be dangerous. Jude shows up regularly in number nine positions. I am confident we will be able to create chances and convert them."
England v Serbia (Thu, 19:45 GMT)
England
England head coach Thomas Tuchel says he is in a good place mentally and loves the direction the team is heading, but know he has to continue to prove himself in his position.
He added that he had not thought so much about his contract, which runs out next year after the World Cup, but says there would be plenty of time for that.
More to follow.
England v Serbia (Thu, 19:45 GMT)
England
More from England manager Thomas Tuchel on Jude Bellingham: "Jude accepted the decision in the last camp. He did what he does best, competed at the highest level and shows he deserves to be in the squad and that's why he is here.
"I will not reveal my private conversations with the players in public.
"I think it's not a surprise for him to compete for us in the number 10 position. He knows from me and he sees himself as a number 10.
"The key strength of him from number 10 is to find number 9 positions. He has a hunger and determination to score, which is what we see for Real Madrid and hopefully, we see that for us as well."
England v Serbia (Thu, 19:45 GMT)
England
More from England manager Thomas Tuchel on Myles Lewis-Skelly: "Myles was a very good team-mate and played for us in the last camp in the World Cup qualifier in Riga, so was Ruben Loftus-Cheek, so was Morgan Gibbs-White and James Trafford.
"But I said last time there is a component to it that it's about competition and performance and the door is always open for guys who perform on a regular and high level.
"Myles, Ruben and Morgan got out-performed by Nico O'Reilly, Alex Scott, Nick Pope and Jude in their positions.
"Myles simply needs more starts, more minutes. Now came a time when Nico O'Reilly had so many starts in that position, so he is slightly ahead for this camp."
Alex Howell
BBC Sport football reporter at Wembley
Thomas Tuchel has backed up his call for players needing to play regularly to be in his England squad.
Myles Lewis-Skelly has dropped out of the squad due to a lack of minutes and Tuchel says that the other players who he has left out have been "outperformed".
"It’s about competition and performance. The door is always open for performance at a high level. Myles needs more starts and more minutes."
England v Serbia (Thu, 19:45 GMT)
England
England head coach Thomas Tuchel said Harry Kane would get a break from games over the winter in the Bundesliga so had no "excuse" about tiredness and does not need a break in November.
More to follow.
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