Credit: Imago

Jonathan Burnett

Sun 23 March 2025 7:30, UK

Thomas Tuchel’s second match in charge of England could see two Aston Villa representatives dropped from the starting XI.

Villa had two players named in Tuchel’s maiden line-up against Albania on Friday, with both Ezri Konsa and Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford starting, while Morgan Rogers also came off the bench.

England recorded a comfortable 2-0 victory at Wembley to open the Tuchel era; Myles Lewis-Skelly netting the opener on his debut from Jude Bellingham’s pass before Harry Kane rounded off the scoring.

While Konsa partnered another debutant, Dan Burn, at centre-half for the duration, Rashford was hooked in the 74th minute and replaced by Villa team-mate Rogers, who moved into a deeper number 10 role.

Tuchel to drop Rashford and Konsa in sweeping England changes

Although both of England’s matches against Albania and Latvia during this international break are competitive World Cup qualifiers, much more attention is being paid to Tuchel’s selection and tactics.

The German will be keen to make use of his first squad against Latvia on Monday and could make up to five changes from the win over Albania, with both of his starting Villans dropped to the bench.

Though Konsa impressed alongside Burn, Tuchel could name another new-look partnership of Marc Guehi and Levi Colwill, flanked by Lewis-Skelly and another international returnee in Reece James.

Konsa dropping to the bench will also likely see him join Rashford amongst the substitutes, after the Villa loanee joined Phil Foden in failing to make much of an impact or truly impress Tuchel in his first outing.

Rashford being named in the squad came as a surprise to some in the first place, given his peaks and troughs of form this season, and it remains to be seen if Tuchel will give him the benefit of the doubt.

Tuchel to deny Rogers full England debut v Latvia

Rashford’s pain may not necessarily prove to be Rogers’ gain against Latvia on Monday, with Tuchel also likely to bring in three of his 26-man troupe who weren’t named in the matchday squad to face Albania.

Of that trio – Aaron Ramsdale, Jarell Quansah and Morgan Gibbs-White – the ex-Wolves man could be the most likely to feature, and that could see Rogers denied his first-ever place in an England starting XI.

Rogers’ three caps have all come off the bench thus far, and though Unai Emery certainly wouldn’t mind his playmaker-in-chief getting another rest, the 22-year-old will be sorely disappointed.

Rogers, Rashford and Konsa’s time in and England shirt will come again, but all three could be set to watch on at Wembley this Monday.