Jarell Quansah is expected to be part of the England squad that faces Latvia later today. That’s despite Thomas Tuchel having to cut the numbers down to meet UEFA regulations.
The new England boss named Quansah as part of the travelling 26-man group for his first camp. But the Liverpool defender did not make it to Tuchel’s debut matchday squad against Albania, with a maximum of 23 players allowed for each fixture.
However, perhaps with an eye on running the rule over as many players as possible, Tuchel is set to name Quansah to the squad against Latvia. Should he make it onto the pitch, it would mark an England debut for the Anfield talent.
Quansah endured a diffcult start to the season at Liverpool under Arne Slot, who hooked him at half time in the first game of the campaign. Ibrahima Konate has proved difficult to unseat ever since. But Quansah has somewhat recovered his standing, and is back on the promising path he set out upon under Jurgen Klopp. He started the recent League Cup final at right-back amid something of an injury crisis.
Indeed, should he make his England bow today, he will do so before Harvey Elliott. Not many would have predicted that, with the midfielder growing into such an important role under Klopp, only to find himself a little way down the pecking order under Slot.
Elliott is on his own quest to muscle his way in, both for Liverpool and England. But Quansah is one step further ahead, having made it into Tuchel’s initial plans — and a first matchday squad will be a major reward for his progress.
(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
He will be joined by Liverpool colleague Curtis Jones. The midfielder has enjoyed a really promising start to life under Tuchel, starting and impressing against Albania. That start was just his third cap for the Three Lions, but he will hope it is a sign of things to come. Trent Alexander-Arnold, meanwhile, was missing from the squad altogether through injury.
Jordan Henderson has been a surprise inclusion in Tuchel’s initial setup, and the former Liverpool captain will once again be involved in the squad against Latvia. Anthony Gordon has withdrawn through injury, while Tino Livramento and Aaron Ramsdale are the others to miss out at Quansah’s expense in the final cut.
Whether he makes it onto the pitch remains to be seen. But Tuchel has made a number of experimental center-back picks, including Dan Burn — with England surely on course for a comfortable victory, Quansah can certainly dare to dream of an opportunity.
