.png)
6 hours ago
2
Nico O’Reilly
A year ago, when England began their World Cup qualifying campaign with a 2-0 win over Albania, the prospect of Nico O’Reilly making the squad seemed very distant. He was yet to earn a cap and had played just 23 minutes of Premier League football. But he is now close to indispensable for Manchester City, having started 23 league games this season and earned two England caps in the process.
Eleven new players have joined City this season, but none has made more of an impression than the academy graduate. Despite being developed as a midfielder, O’Reilly has transitioned seamlessly into the left-back position. His ability to retain the ball under pressure, carry it up the pitch and thread passes with composure and vision make him a crucial presence in the attack. He is the top-scoring full-back in the Premier League this season with four goals.
At the other end of the pitch his timing, positioning and 6ft 4in frame make him one of the best in the league at disrupting counterattacks, intercepting passes and winning second balls. He has made more tackles than any other City player in the league this season. His eight goals and five assists in all competitions have more than repaid Guardiola’s faith.
The 21-year-old clearly thrives on the big stage too, his two goals against Arsenal in the League Cup final the latest example of him raising the bar of expectations. If there were any worries he couldn’t handle the pressure, they have surely been dispelled now. He showed similar composure when Manchester City beat Real Madrid in December, scoring his first goal in the Champions League in front of 80,000 fans at the Bernabéu.
His inclusion in the England squad seems an inevitability; the question is where Thomas Tuchel will use him. Despite playing left-back in 27 of his 38 starts this season, Guardiola has moved O’Reilly into the midfield in recent weeks, trusting him to take on a box-to-box role. “He is so complete and so young,” says Guardiola, a testament to the faith he places in O’Reilly.
Luke Shaw
Once expected to be Ashley Cole’s heir as England’s left-back, Luke Shaw’s international career has been a frustrating story of what-ifs. Since bursting on to the scene as an 18-year-old at Southampton, and impressing for England’s youth teams, injuries have prevented him from living up to his potential and making the position his own. After making his international debut in a 1-0 win against Denmark in March 2014, he has gone on to earn just 34 caps. Shaw has missed hundreds of games for club and country since joining Manchester United in 2014 for £30m, which at the time was a world-record transfer fee for a teenager.
But Shaw is at last putting together a consistent run of games. The 30-year-old is just one of eight outfield players in the Premier League to have started every game for their club this season. He is strong, speedy, comfortable going forward and has plenty of experience at major tournaments. He was the youngest player to make an appearance at the World Cup in 2014; he scored for England in the Euro 2020 final at Wembley; and he also started the Euro 2024 final.
Shaw could bring a seasoned presence to the defence, but Tuchel seems unconvinced. He has not played for England under Tuchel and was left out of the his 35-man squad for the friendlies against Uruguay and Japan at Wembley. Tuchel has gone for youth and tactical balance over reputation and experience. Trent Alexander-Arnold has been a casualty of that approach at right-back and Shaw faces the same problem on the opposite side of the defence.
Lewis Hall
Lewis Hall was given his professional debut as a 17-year-old by Tuchel when they were both at Chelsea in 2022. Now the young defender finds himself trying to convince the same manager he can be England’s left-back at the World Cup. The upcoming friendlies mark his first call-up since 2024, with injuries having delayed his opportunity to audition for the position.
The 21-year-old would be a natural choice for Tuchel. He has played consistently as a left-back in a four-man defence this season, so suits Tuchel’s preferred 4-2-3-1 formation. He has also been one of Newcastle’s best players. His crusading runs down the left make him a crucial weapon in their attack.
The numbers reinforce his case: Hall ranks second among Premier League left-backs for successful dribbles per 90 minutes and entries into the final third; he places fourth for forward passes, fifth for successful passes into the final third and third for crosses – all while playing just 18 games this season.
There are a few question marks, though. Tuchel’s full-backs are typically asked to move into midfield rather than overlap, which is one of Hall’s strengths. The system prioritises ball retention, positional discipline and defensive stability – which may make a player such as Myles Lewis-Skelly a better fit. Hall’s attacking instincts could be curbed if he has to tuck inside and support buildup from central areas. That said, he could be a good weapon against teams that play a low block. His progressive passing and ability to create from deep could break down stubborn defences.
This is an article by WhoScored
