England national football team manager Thomas Tuchel has clarified why Trent Alexander-Arnold was not included in the squad for upcoming friendlies against Uruguay and Japan.

The 27-year-old has yet to feature under Tuchel since his appointment in early 2025, casting doubt over his chances of making the next World Cup squad.

Alexander-Arnold’s first season with Real Madrid has been disrupted by injuries. However, he has been available since February and has made nine appearances in all competitions.

Explaining his decision, Tuchel said he is fully aware of the defender’s qualities.

“I know exactly what Trent brings. I’ve faced him many times, and he caused problems for my teams when he played for Liverpool FC,” Tuchel stated.

“But right now, we are relying on the performances we saw in September, October, and November. The players currently in camp at right-back must compete, prove themselves, and show they deserve their place.”

Alexander-Arnold last played for England in the summer of 2025, coming off the bench in a 1-0 victory over Andorra.

Meanwhile, Ollie Watkins has also been left out, having scored just three goals in 16 appearances for Aston Villa since the beginning of 2026.

Thomas Tuchel admitted the decision was difficult not only for Trent Alexander-Arnold, but also for Ollie Watkins and Luke Shaw.

He stressed that such calls are part of management and purely based on sporting reasons.

Tuchel explained that he has chosen to continue with players like Jarell Quansah, Tino Livramento, and Djed Spence, who are already in the squad and competing for places.

He also pointed out that selecting forwards such as Dominic Solanke and Dominic Calvert-Lewin is partly about gaining a better understanding of their abilities, compared to Watkins, whose qualities he already knows well.

Tuchel added that he has seen Watkins perform in both tournaments and qualification matches, so he wants to assess other options before making final judgments.

Despite acknowledging Alexander-Arnold’s status as a top talent with a strong career, Tuchel maintained that he prefers to stick with the players currently in camp, as he already has a clear understanding of what the defender offers.