Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor
England head coach Thomas Tuchel has said he would "never rule out" selecting players who are not playing in the top flight for their clubs, as the Manchester City financial scandal continues to cast a shadow over his squad during the international break. Speaking to the media in Rijeka on Friday, October 2, 2026, ahead of England's Nations League fixture against Croatia, Tuchel was asked whether he would consider picking players outside the Premier League, particularly if Manchester City were relegated as punishment for breaching financial regulations. "There is always a possibility," Tuchel said. "I would always try to pick the best team for the camp, for the occasion, for the tournament. I will never rule out that because they don't play in the top flight in their country. We need to look at it case by case".
The question was prompted by the verdict delivered on Tuesday, when an independent commission found Manchester City guilty of all charges relating to breaches of the Premier League's financial rules between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons. The club, which denies guilt, has appealed against the verdict, saying the ruling contained "clear material errors, of law, principle and fact and is unsafe". Sanctions have not yet been decided, but potential punishments include expulsion from the league, points deductions and fines.
Three players in Tuchel's current England squad play for Manchester City: Elliot Anderson, Marc Guehi and Nico O'Reilly, though O'Reilly left the camp on Thursday with an injury and has returned to City. The current England squad of 24 players all ply their trade in top leagues, and it is unusual for a player to represent the Three Lions while playing outside a top division. However, James Trafford was named in Tuchel's squads in March and June 2025 while still in the Championship with Burnley, though he was an unused substitute and did not win a full cap until he returned to Manchester City. Goalkeeper Sam Johnstone was the last player to represent England while playing in the Championship, for West Brom in 2021, while Kalvin Phillips made his England debut before he had played in the Premier League.
Tuchel acknowledged that the City verdict had become a significant topic of conversation among his players during the long international break. "We had some time off between the matches and it is a big subject," he said. "Everyone speaks about it, so there is no other voice needed. I am glad to be not that voice. No-one needs my half knowledge on the topic. Of course, the players talk about it. City players talk about it. We talk with them but only briefly. They are ready to go tomorrow, that's what they show on the pitch and in camp. But of course, it's a big topic in the camp". His comments reflected a deliberate decision to avoid adding to the speculation surrounding the case, while acknowledging that it was impossible to shield the squad from the news.
England are preparing to face Croatia in Rijeka on Saturday, with the match kicking off at 17:00 BST. Tuchel has indicated he may name a stronger team against Croatia, a side containing City players Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic, before resting more key names against the Czech Republic next Tuesday. The England squad includes several players who have been recalled or handed opportunities, including Trent Alexander-Arnold, Cole Palmer, Lewis Hall, Jarrad Branthwaite and Myles Lewis-Skelly. Goalkeepers Jordan Pickford, Jason Steele and James Trafford are among those selected, alongside defenders Trevoh Chalobah, Marc Guehi, Tino Livramento, Nico O'Reilly and Jarell Quansah.
The City case has added a layer of complexity to Tuchel's preparations. The club's potential relegation, if it materialises, would raise immediate questions about the international futures of players like Anderson, Guehi and O'Reilly, who have established themselves in the England setup. Tuchel's insistence that he would select players regardless of their club's division is a pragmatic response to a scenario that remains hypothetical but is no longer unthinkable. His approach contrasts with the traditional assumption that England players must be performing at the highest level of club football to merit selection, an assumption that has been challenged in the past by players who earned caps while in the Championship or before making their Premier League debuts.
The England camp has also had to manage the ongoing news cycle around the City verdict while focusing on the Nations League campaign. Tuchel said the players had shown the right attitude in training and were ready for the challenge against Croatia. "They are ready to go tomorrow, that's what they show on the pitch and in camp," he said. England's Nations League campaign continues with the match against Croatia before they face the Czech Republic, and Tuchel will be hoping the off-field distractions do not affect his team's performances on the pitch.
For the England manager, the question of picking players outside the Premier League is not merely theoretical. If City are relegated, three of his current squad members would find themselves in the Championship, and Tuchel would have to decide whether their club situation affects their international prospects. His answer on Friday was unambiguous: "There is always a possibility." The coming weeks will determine whether that possibility becomes a reality, and how Tuchel navigates a situation that could reshape the international careers of some of his most promising players.
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