Four Underused Players Thomas Tuchel Could Call Up

At the beginning of the month, Thomas Tuchel took charge of the England squad from Lee Carsley but he had already started looking at players who could be good additions to his Three Lions side. Obviously some players, like Harry Kane, Jordan Pickford and Bukayo Saka, will be on Tuchel’s team sheet, but with a change of regime may come a huge overhaul in the personnel.

Lewis Hall - Newcastle

Lewis Hall made his England debut under Lee Carsley in November, coming on as a half time substitute in a 3-0 win over Greece. Since then, he has made one more appearance for England. As a left sided full-back, Hall will most likely end up in the England squad under Tuchel, as that is the position in which the Three Lions are thinnest. Hall made appearances in every England youth team between the Under 15s to the Under 21s, so he is comfortable with the national team set up, something that could put him above other candidates at left-back.

Hall has been a revelation at full back since joining from Chelsea permanently in the summer. He has managed three assists so far this season and has been defensively astute too. At just 20 years old, he could end up being part of the England set up for 10 years or more, but only if Tuchel gives him the chance to show his worth.

Tyrick Mitchell - Crystal Palace

Another left-back who has been barely used by England is Crystal Palace’s Tyrick Mitchell. He made his England debut in 2022 but has only played twice for the Three Lions and that was down to injuries to Trent Alexander-Arnold and Reece James. Mitchell never made any appearances for the England youth teams, so he is probably behind Hall on the list. Being of Jamaican descent, he could represent them at international level, and at the age of 25, his time on the international stage is running out.

🚨 Tyrick Mitchell is wanted by several Premier League clubs, with his Crystal Palace contract coming to an end.

The full-back has also been scouted by Atletico Madrid.

(Source: Mirror) pic.twitter.com/G1g5Fsa67Y

— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) January 10, 2025

This season Mitchell has mainly been playing as a wing-back under Oliver Glazner as he prefers a three back formation. Tuchel has also played a three back while manager of Chelsea, so there is always a possibility that his England play similarly. Mitchell, like Hall, has registered three assists this season and in total has over 150 Premier League appearances under his belt. Experience is not a problem with Mitchell, it just depends on whether or not he will fit Tuchel’s plans.

Tino Livramento - Newcastle

Newcastle’s other full-back, Tino Livramento, feels as if he has been part of the England set up for a while, but he only has one appearance for the national team. Right back is less of a problem position for England with the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Reece James and even Ben White who can play there. James is often injured, so he might not get many chances in an England shirt, and Ben White rejected England under Gareth Southgate so he might not get called up because of this.

Livramento has been excellent since he joined Newcastle from Southampton back in 2023, despite the injuries that he has picked up. Like Hall, he is still young so he could also be a big part of England’s set up in the future and also similarly to his Newcastle team mate, he has been in England’s youth teams all the way from the Under 15s. His one cap for the first team came under Lee Carsley in November, so it is likely that Tuchel keeps him involved.

Lewis Cook - Bournemouth

Lewis Cook is the oldest player and probably least likely to be called up from this list, but that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t deserve a chance on the international stage. The 27-year-old midfielder has made one appearance for England all the way back in 2018 in a friendly against Italy. Cook had been a bit part player at Bournemouth before their relegation in 2020 mainly due to the two ACL injuries that he has sustained, but under Iraola he has been transformed into the most underrated midfielders in world football.

Ryan Christie and Lewis Cook are genuinely two of the most underrated footballers I’ve ever seen https://t.co/SAHZ6gObWA

— Callum (@CallumFT_) December 17, 2024

The middle of the park is not an area that England has tended to struggle with, with Declan Rice, Kobbie Mainoo and Conor Gallagher all playing there for the Three Lions in recent years. However recently Rice has had a number of injuries, Mainoo’s form has been in and out, and Gallagher has been deployed further forward at Atletico Madrid. All of this could give Cook his chance after he played so well for the England youth teams. He even captained England’s U20s to World Cup victory back in 2017 making him the first Three Lions captain to lift the trophy since Bobby Moore. He is experienced, hardworking, talented and disciplined so Tuchel will be missing out if he isn’t selected.