Thomas Tuchel has just dropped major hint on Forest star Elliot Anderson after complaints of England snub
Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad came with excitement as a number of Nottingham Forest stars looked to have a chance of a call-up, but not a single player made the cut.
Perhaps most of all, Forest fans were furious that Morgan Gibbs-White wasn’t called up for England, especially given that he has already been this season and has only improved since.
It is true that Gibbs-White and Callum Hudson-Odoi can rest during the international break, but it’s a minor consolation prize for what looked to be the perfect opportunity to represent the incredible work of Nuno Espirito Santo’s Forest on the international stage.
For Hudson-Odoi, the timing must have felt both confusing and devastating as the snub came just days after his match-winning performance against Manchester City. Michael Owen hailed Hudson-Odoi for his goal, but it clearly wasn’t enough to impress Tuchel.
Such is the disappointment that Reds fans will be looking for answers from the England coach, who was questioned specifically about the lack of Forest players in the squad and offered a hint that Elliot Anderson’s chances may not be quite over yet.
Thomas Tuchel hints at a potential senior England opportunity for Elliot Anderson
The 22-year-old has been an almost ever-present since signing from Newcastle, with his displays leading to Dion Dublin thinking Anderson deserved an England call-up.
He did in a way, but not for the senior squad, as Anderson was selected in a star-studded England Under 21s team, coached by Lee Carsley after his brief stint in the senior role.
However, Tuchel still found time to discuss Anderson whilst being interviewed by talkSPORT, possibly hinting at a potential scenario that could see the Forest man make a quick step up.
Tuchel said: “Elliot [Anderson], for example, can play for the under 21s, so he will be close by at St George’s Park.”
Whilst the Under 21s are playing away in France for their first clash of the camp, Tuchel’s comments suggest that Anderson and his teammates will be training at the national training centre throughout, giving the German coach a good look at a potential midfield option.
The close proximity also makes it likely that, should an injury occur in the senior squad, Anderson could comfortably step into Tuchel’s group, given his near-full season of Premier League football at Forest.
Potential excitement for Anderson, then, but less so for his Forest teammates as Tuchel went on to explain why they didn’t make the squad.
‘World-class’ competition prevented Morgan Gibbs-White and Callum Hudson-Odoi’s call-ups
Forest fans called for Gibbs-White and Hudson-Odoi to play for England long before the squad was announced, but this clearly had no impact on Tuchel, who chose to stick with already-established international talent instead.
Tuchel continued: “Morgan [Gibbs-White], Elliot [Anderson] and Callum [Hudson-Odoi] play at such a high level every week, and they are the high-flyers of the league. […] I see Elliot Anderson as a number eight, Morgan as a number 10, Callum as a winger.
“If you look at our squad, you can also see that they have huge competition in their position, world-class players who prove themselves on the same level as Nottingham Forest, who prove themselves in international football and even in the Champions League.
“They know it, and they accept it. It’s never easy to bring this message, and it’s never easy to take this message in. I just tell everyone that we acknowledge the outstanding seasons they’ve had and that the calls were very close.”
Given that Hudson-Odoi’s ‘world-class competition’ came in the form of an out-of-form Phil Foden and a slightly improved Marcus Rashford, the Forest man will be disappointed by the decision of Tuchel.
However, the three will remain on the cusp of a Three Lions opportunity, so if their excellent work at the City Ground continues, Tuchel won’t be able to ignore them much longer.
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