Thomas Tuchel’s England have officially qualified for next year’s World Cup, winning all six games, scoring 18 goals and conceding zero. Few will be guaranteed a place on the plane come June, but barring an absolute disaster, Declan Rice will be.
The Arsenal man has started seven of Tuchel’s eight games in charge, with his only reprieve coming in the languid 1-0 win over Andorra in the summer, although he did come off the bench for the final nine minutes.
With Rice’s place in the squad seemingly a formality, that begs the question, who should partner him in the midfield as England seek to finally get their hands on another World Cup.
5. Jordan Henderson
The old man of England’s midfield options, Henderson, 35, returned to the Premier League after two years away in Saudi Arabia and then the Netherlands, joining Brentford over the summer.
Yes, his legs aren’t quite what they used to be, but in a team filled with young talent, Henderson would offer something that could prove to be truly invaluable for Tuchel, experience and leadership,
Tuchel clearly has a lot of time for Henderson, calling him up for all four of his England squads so far. It’s unlikely to be Henderson starting alongside Rice when the tournament kicks off but coming off for the final 15 minutes to help see a game out, yeah, absolutely.
4. Kobbie Mainoo
A penny for the Man United midfielder’s thoughts, eh? With minutes under Ruben Amorim limited, the 20-year-old asked to leave on loan in order to give him the best chance of securing a place in Tuchel’s squad.
That request was rejected, and Mainoo is looking further away from a place at next year’s tournament than ever. His talent is undeniable; there is a reason Gareth Southgate gave him the nod in last summer’s Euros final against Spain.
Mainoo stands out as a technically adept and progressive midfielder, arguably one of England’s most refined. His balance and agility allow him to turn out of pressure, beat direct markers, and weave through crowded midfield zones with impressive control.
Not playing at club level will leave him with very little chance, however.
3. Adam Wharton
Wharton is a rare breed when it comes to England midfielders, a relentless ball winner who can also pass a ball, if you don’t believe us, take Pep Guardiola’s word for it. "(Adam) Wharton is a really good holding midfielder who links well inside," he said.
Injuries at the worst possible times mean he is yet to feature for England under Tuchel but having started six of Crystal Palace’s seven Premier League games so far, he’s starting to find some form and fitness.
The 21-year-old is the future of England’s midfield, it feels like only a matter of time before he moves to one of Europe’s elite sides for £100m, but given his lack of time with Tuchel, it’s unlikely he’ll feature much next summer, if he even gets a call.
2. Elliot Anderson
The Nottingham Forest man has fit in with Tuchel’s side seamlessly since being called up for the first time earlier in the season, being named Player of the Match in each of his first two England appearances, against Andorra and Serbia.
While the likes of Bellingham offer a more attacking threat, Anderson isn’t afraid to do the dirty work, exactly what England need from a central midfielder to help balance the scale with their more attacking players.
With Jordan Henderson’s best days behind him, Anderson can help fill that void. Playing between the lines, he connects defence and attack, pushing the team up field and giving England’s forwards the freedom to excel, driving play rather than simply passing sideways.
1. Jude Bellingham
One of the biggest names amongst English players, Bellingham found himself out in the cold as Tuchel announced the squad that would subsequently secure qualification. The German has spoken of creating a cohesive team rather than collect superstars, and the Real Madrid man may well be a victim of that ideology.
Bellingham underwent surgery on his shoulder in July and is yet to secure a starting spot under new manager Xabi Alonso at Real Madrid, with his only start coming in their 5-2 defeat to Atletico Madrid at the end of September.
At club level, Bellingham operates primarily as a number ten, but with England, the competition in that position is fiercer. Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, Eberechi Eze, and Morgan Rogers all have their names in the hat.
Tuchel clearly favours a midfield two, he’s only played a three once during his time in charge. Bellingham played and stared alongside Rice in his first two games, there have been other since then, but the 22-year-old should still be top of the list.