Mainoo keeps England spot as Tuchel freezes out Foden for Nations League squad

Kobbie Mainoo has been rewarded for his consistent club form with a place in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the upcoming Nations League fixtures, even as Phil Foden is left out for the sixth month running. The Manchester United midfielder played no minutes during the summer World Cup in North America, yet Tuchel made clear his inclusion is a matter of principle.

“He didn’t put a foot wrong during the World Cup,” Tuchel said. “He was class in behaviour on the training pitch.” The England head coach also addressed the difficult decision to keep Mainoo unused throughout the tournament. “He got injured before the France game, so we couldn’t even give him minutes there, which hurt me. Maybe he was more hurt than me but it was my responsibility, and it’s my responsibility to reward him for that.”

Mainoo’s retention comes against the backdrop of a difficult start to the Premier League season for Manchester United, where he has nonetheless emerged as one of the club’s standout performers. United boss Michael Carrick has spoken warmly of the academy graduate, describing him as “a real joy to have” and “a fantastic player”.

Foden’s continued absence tells a contrasting story. The Manchester City forward has now gone more than nine months without a goal for his club, and Tuchel offered no public mention of him during the squad announcement press conference — a silence that spoke louder than any explanation. Cole Palmer, so often compared to Foden, is among those recalled to the squad.

Nine players from England’s World Cup roster are absent from Tuchel’s latest group for various reasons, including John Stones, Reece James, Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney. Among those returning are Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Myles Lewis-Skelly.

The notable surprise omission in the attacking midfield area was Morgan Gibbs-White rather than Foden, suggesting Tuchel views the City man’s exclusion as settled rather than selection-by-selection. With little public clamour for Foden’s recall — a sharp contrast to the heated pundit debates his absences once sparked — the focus has shifted firmly onto who is thriving, and Mainoo’s name sits near the top of that list.