Rashford returns to England squad for World Cup qualifiers

LONDON, March 14 (Xinhua) -- Marcus Rashford has been recalled to the England squad, as head coach Thomas Tuchel announced his first roster as Three Lions manager on Friday.

   England plays two FIFA World Cup European qualifiers at Wembley later this month. Tuchel has named a 26-man squad, with preparations beginning next week.

   Rashford, who has not played for England in a year, was selected after impressing on loan at Aston Villa, which he joined in January after having fallen out of favor at parent club Manchester United.

   Ajax midfielder Jordan Henderson, 34, returns to the squad for the first time since November 2023. England will face Albania on March 21 and Latvia three days later.

   Newcastle United defender Dan Burn has received his first England call-up, while Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly has also been named in the senior squad for the first time. There are also call-ups for the uncapped pair of James Trafford and Jarell Quansah.

   "I'm very excited to finally begin training after so many months in the job," said Tuchel, who officially took over as England coach on January 1. "It's time to be back on the pitch, connect with the players, push them, and implement a certain style of play along with our principles."

   "We are very excited to be in charge of a match at Wembley. It's beyond what I could have imagined in my career," said Tuchel, who previously coached Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund.

Following is the England squad:

Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Southampton), James Trafford (Burnley)

Defenders: Dan Burn (Newcastle United), Levi Colwill (Chelsea), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Reece James (Chelsea), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), Tino Livramento (Newcastle United), Jarell Quansah (Liverpool), Kyle Walker (AC Milan, loan from Manchester City)

Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), Jordan Henderson (Ajax), Curtis Jones (Liverpool), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)

Forwards: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Marcus Rashford (Aston Villa, loan from Manchester United), Dominic Solanke (Tottenham Hotspur)  ■