Coach Tuchel reveals why former Man United star was left out of England squad

Coach Thomas Tuchel has explained why striker Danny Welbeck was not included in England’s latest squad call-up for November.

According to the German tactician, Brighton’s star “was very close” to being recalled to the England team, but in the end, he opted for other attacking options. “Yes, he was very close to the squad,” Tuchel said on BBC Radio 5 Live.

“Welbeck is a fantastic leader at Brighton, a very special player. He’s scoring regularly, and we seriously considered him. Ultimately, we chose a different path. But Welbeck has not been ruled out entirely; he remains part of my plans.”

Entering the 2025/26 season, Danny Welbeck is showing impressive form for Brighton, having scored 6 goals in 10 Premier League matches. The 33-year-old striker proves he still maintains good fitness and sharp goal instincts despite being past his prime. The former Manchester United and Arsenal player scored 16 goals in 42 appearances for the “Three Lions” but has not been called up since 2018.

In the latest England squad list, Harry Kane is the only striker selected. Both Ollie Watkins and Dominic Solanke are injured, while Ivan Toney continues to be overlooked. Therefore, Welbeck’s absence despite his good form has disappointed many fans.

After learning he was not called up, Danny Welbeck remained calm and professional in his interview. “Brighton coach (Fabian) Hurzeler joked in the morning meeting, ‘raise your hand if you think Danny is good enough for England,’ and almost everyone raised theirs,” Welbeck shared. “That made me happy, but I don’t dwell on it too much. I just focus on what I can control, playing well in each match, enjoying football, and helping Brighton achieve the best results.”

The 1990-born player also affirmed he still dreams of representing the national team again: “I have many wonderful memories with England, starting from youth teams. After many injuries and setbacks, I’m just happy to play at a high level. Being mentioned as a potential candidate is already an honor; the rest I’ll let my performance speak for.”

According to Tuchel’s revelation, the November squad list is only experimental before he finalizes the World Cup 2026 squad. Therefore, Welbeck’s chances remain if he continues his goal-scoring form in the Premier League in the coming months.

Related article

Coach Tuchel excludes Arsenal star from England squad England recently announced a 25-player squad for the final two matches of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, notably missing fullback Lewis-Skelly. See more