Bellingham and King earn England call-ups as Palmer and Mainoo miss out

Jobe Bellingham and Josh King have been selected for England’s final squad of the year, while Cole Palmer and Kobbie Mainoo are among the high-profile players omitted by manager Thomas Tuchel.

Bellingham’s selection puts him in the senior squad alongside his older brother Jude for the first time. The England Under-21 captain is in line to become the 22nd pair of brothers to play for the men’s senior team, should he feature. His call-up follows a run of form at Borussia Dortmund, where he plays in midfield.

Tuchel said Under-21 manager Lee Carsley had spoken positively about Bellingham over recent weeks and months. The England manager said the midfielder had played well and deserved the chance to join the senior group.

King, 19, has also been chosen after making an impression at England’s World Cup warm-up camp in June. The Fulham midfielder is uncapped at senior level. Tuchel described him as a flexible attacking option, able to train in four forward positions and provide alternatives on either wing or in the number 10 role.

Tuchel said King’s selection recognised his start to the season at Fulham and reflected a desire to give standout Under-21 players an opportunity with the senior team. England’s Under-21s have a major tournament scheduled for next summer, he said.

England are due to host Croatia next Thursday and travel to Spain three days later. The team are close to securing a place in the Nations League quarter-finals ahead of the two fixtures.

Tuchel said England would be short in central midfield for the Croatia match. Alex Scott is unavailable after suffering an injury during the previous camp, while Myles Lewis-Skelly is suspended for the opener after receiving a yellow card.

Declan Rice returns after injury. Bukayo Saka is absent with a thigh injury, and Tuchel has not called up Noni Madueke as a replacement. Scott, Marcus Rashford, John Stones, Tino Livramento, Reece James and Trevoh Chalobah are also ruled out through injury.

Djed Spence and Ben White have joined the 25-man squad, while defender Nico O’Reilly has dropped out. Dean Henderson, Dan Burn and Jordan Henderson, who were members of the World Cup squad, are not included after missing the previous camp.

The November fixtures are the final international camp of the year. Tuchel said King’s June experience with the senior group had helped make the moment right for his selection, while Bellingham’s recent Dortmund form and the midfield gap created by Scott’s absence were factors in his inclusion.

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