Cole Palmer is out of the England squad again. Manager Thomas Tuchel left the Chelsea forward out for November's Nations League games, the BBC reported. He said the 24-year-old "misses too many chances to impress". Palmer also missed the squad for England's games in early autumn.
England host Croatia at Wembley on Thursday, November 12. They then face Spain in Madrid on Sunday, November 15. Tuchel said the team already has "enough number 10s" and will stick with the players from the last camp. He said everyone is desperate to play for England, "and Cole is no exception". He added that what counts is performing when a player is in camp.
Two attacking midfielders get their first senior call-ups: Fulham's Josh King and Borussia Dortmund's Jobe Bellingham. Jobe, 21, joins his brother Jude in the squad. According to the BBC, they could become the first brothers to play together in an England line-up since Gary and Phil Neville. Tuchel said Under-21 coach Lee Carsley had been "speaking very highly" of Jobe, the Under-21 captain. He added that Jobe is now a regular starter at Dortmund and "very influential" there.
Jobe was picked ahead of Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo. Tuchel said Mainoo has had a "difficult spell with his club". King, 19, has two goals and one assist in the Premier League this season. Tuchel called him "a fantastic character" who offers flexibility. He said King can play on both wings and will be the extra outfield player in training.
Injuries keep several names out. Arsenal's Bukayo Saka hurt his quadriceps against Bayern Munich and is expected to miss six weeks. Bournemouth's Alex Scott, Manchester United's Marcus Rashford and Newcastle's Tino Livramento are also injured. Como's Trevoh Chalobah and Manchester City's Nico O'Reilly and Rico Lewis were not selected.
Ben White and Djed Spence return for the first time since the summer. Declan Rice and Ezri Konsa, who both withdrew from the last squad, are fit and included. England are second behind Spain in Nations League group A3, with three wins and one loss. One more point from their last two games will secure a place in the two-legged quarter-finals in March.