England squad announcement LIVE: Thomas Tuchel names players for June internationals

Latvia didn’t let it. They made England really work for any opening, which in turn made James’s goal all the more valuable.

“It’s been a frustrating season for me,” Phil Foden continued when speaking about his summer rehabilitation plans.

“I’ve had a lot of things going on off the pitch mentally. It’s one of them, sometimes there’s things in life that are bigger than football.

“This season I’ve struggled a little bit. Hopefully, come next year, I can get my head mentally right, get back where I left the season before, because I know what I’m capable of doing and the quality I have.

“I know if everything was okay, I’d definitely be better on the field. Sometimes things happen and you have to deal with it and move on.”

Phil Foden’s confidence has been knocked this season by a nagging ankle injury which hasn’t allowed him to perform to his previously high levels.

He has spoken about the toll the injury has taken on his mental health and as such hopes to use the summer to fully recuperate both physically and mentally.

But there is little time in the schedule with England playing internationals in June and Man City needing to play in the Club World Cup.

Foden is considering sitting out of both camps to prioritise his mental well being but hasn’t made a decision yet.

He said: “It’s a difficult situation for me with the internationals right around the corner. It’s something we have to speak with the club and national team to see, maybe, if it’s better to rest and get my ankle fully 100 per cent back how I want it.

“I just need a few weeks off it without playing football and obviously I can’t get it at the moment. It’s a bit frustrating to play with niggles like this. It’s getting better and stronger each day.”

Phil Foden believes he may need to miss England’s summer internationals and the Club World Cup to allow his ankle problem to heal, as he admitted to struggling mentally with issues both on and off the pitch during a difficult season.

The Manchester City player attributed a “frustrating” year to injury and other factors, as he opened up about the toughest campaign of his career.

The 54-year-old served as the governing body’s director of elite development between 2013 and 2018 before taking positions at Brighton and Newcastle ahead of an ill-fated five-month stay at Old Trafford which ended in December.

The newly-created role will see Ashworth take oversight of the England men’s and women’s teams.

When England face Andorra at Villa Park in September it will be the second meeting between the teams (following June’s clash) and the second outing away from Wembley for Tuchel’s Three Lions.

Nottingham Forest’s City Ground is staging June’s meeting with Senegal on Tuesday 10 June.

Tuchel said: “We’re excited to play at Villa Park; another stadium full of history.

“I know from my own visits to the stadium this season that it is capable of creating an outstanding atmosphere and is located close to St. George’s Park which is a positive for our preparation.

“We hope to be able to generate another special atmosphere and create a memorable occasion for all fans.”

Villa Park will host England’s 2026 World Cup qualifier against Andorra on Saturday 6 September (5pm BST kick-off).

The fixture will be the Three Lions’ fourth game on the road to Canada, Mexico and the United States.

It will be the first time in over 20 years that the home of Aston Villa has hosted a senior men’s international with the last being a goalless draw with the Netherlands in February 2005.

In total, Villa Park has welcomed the Three Lions on nine previous occasions with the first of those against Scotland in April 1899.

The Three Lions boss is adamant his side can find the missing piece on the road to the 2026 World Cup, hoping to discover “excitement”.

And Tuchel will be able to showcase his vision of England for the first time on Friday when England face Albania, though he remained emphatic when assessing where Gareth Southgate’s side fell short a year ago.

Will Jordan Henderson be called up to the England squad again?

That is another question waiting to be answered by today’s squad announcement.

It was a surprise to see the former Liverpool captain included back in March but Thomas Tuchel explained his reasoning.

“Why Jordan? Easy one,” said Tuchel. “He’s a serial winner, captain of Ajax, always available, played a lot of matches and played in the European Cup.

“What he brings to every team is leadership, character, personality, energy. He makes sure everyone lives by the standards. With this characteristic, he embodies everything we are trying to build.

“We try to build a team for our fans, we try to build a team they’re proud of, they can identify with and is hopefully an exciting watch. Jordan brings everything and embodies everything of what we want this team to be.”

Based on that it wouldn’t be a shock if Henderson is back again for June’s matches.

England squads tend to be made up of players from the ‘big six’ clubs in the Premier League but with this season throwing up surprises and a resurgence from the likes of Nottingham Forest, Newcastle and Crystal Palace there is more of a case to widen the net when selecting the next bunch of England players.

Midfielders Adam Wharton, who helped Crystal Palace to the FA Cup, and Elliot Anderson, pivotal to Nottingham Forest’s Champions League qualification bid, could be among those on Tuchel’s radar.

So too, Aston Villa’s Jacob Ramsey and Newcastle’s Jacob Murphy while Arsenal’s Ben White might also be in line for a recall following his exile since the 2022 World Cup.