England vs Spain predicted lineup: Quansah in right-back contention after five withdrawals
Rice and Mainoo’s absences leave Anderson positioned to retain his place in midfield.
England manager Thomas Tuchel is considering Jarell Quansah at right-back for Saturday’s UEFA Nations League match against Spain after five players withdrew with minor injuries. Kick-off is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. BST at Wembley Stadium.
England’s projected 4-2-3-1 has Jordan Pickford in goal; Quansah, Ezri Konsa, Marc Guéhi and Nico O’Reilly in defence; Elliot Anderson and Jude Bellingham in defensive midfield; and Bukayo Saka, Morgan Rogers and Anthony Gordon behind captain Harry Kane.
Real Madrid-linked Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold is the only recognised right-back specialist in the squad. Tuchel confirmed he is assessing central defender Quansah as an alternative against Spain’s wide attacking system. “I will not tell you, of course,” Tuchel said of his starting lineup. “He will fight with Jarell Quansah for the position. That’s what the competition is.”
The withdrawals include midfielders Declan Rice and Kobbie Mainoo, forward Cole Palmer, winger Marcus Rashford and full-back Tino Livramento. With Jordan Henderson and Chelsea defender Reece James also unavailable for selection, Tuchel made late call-ups to Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White and Everton midfielder James Garner to reinforce central midfield.
Tuchel had a full 24-man group for Thursday’s training session at Tottenham Hotspur’s training ground in Enfield, north London, after fitness concerns interrupted earlier sessions at St George’s Park in Burton upon Trent. Left-back Lewis Hall was held out as a precaution on Wednesday, when England Under-19 internationals Kaden Braithwaite and Malachi Hardy were brought in temporarily to maintain full training numbers. Both have since returned to their development squads.
Rice and Mainoo’s absences leave Anderson positioned to retain a starting place. Other options alongside him include Manchester City teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly and AFC Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott. The coaching staff is also considering using Bellingham in a deeper central role rather than as an advanced playmaker, which could open the central attacking midfield position for Aston Villa’s Rogers.
Kane, the Bayern Munich striker, is scheduled to lead the line. If he appears in all four scheduled matches across the current international window, he would draw level with former goalkeeper Peter Shilton, who holds the England men’s national team appearance record with 125 senior caps.
