Thomas Tuchel gets to work! Liam Delap, Phil Foden & eight key decisions the new England manager must make ahead of World Cup qualifiers

Arguably the biggest decision facing Tuchel is who will play on the left flank in his defence - a choice he needs to get right for both the short and long-term with England looking alarmingly short of fit or in-form options.

Previous first-choice Luke Shaw has endured another injury-plagued campaign to date with Manchester United, seeing just 98 minutes of action across only three appearances. After a 'small' setback in December, he still hasn't returned.

Meanwhile, Ben Chilwell - a stalwart of Tuchel's Champions League-winning Chelsea side - has somehow seen even less game time, playing just once despite being fit as Enzo Maresca prioritises other options at Stamford Bridge.

Shaw might be back soon, but options are still very thin on the ground nonetheless, with Newcastle's Lewis Hall, whom Tuchel knows from their time together at Stamford Bridge, having made his debut back in November having established himself as Eddie Howe's preferred starter for the Magpies.

It would be little surprise, either, if the coach was keeping tabs on Ipswich's Leif Davis in the run-up to his first squad announcement - a player who has so far gone under England's radar and is uncapped even at youth level. The 25-year-old - who can also play at wing-back - has been one of the Tractor Boys' standout performers, chipping in with four goal involvements in a newly-promoted side that has often toiled.

Could there be two Ipswich players in Tuchel's first England squad? Striker Liam Delap is currently commanding the German's consideration, although the new England manager is yet to watch him in person.

A centre-forward who combines brutish physicality with excellent touch, technique and finishing ability, the 21-year-old has already proven he is Premier League-ready with 10 goal involvements in 19 games and is currently the joint highest-scoring English striker in the division.

Delap is still raw, but with Harry Kane's current understudy Ollie Watkins looking somewhat out of sorts so far in 2024-25, he is surely on course to be given his chance if he can maintain this form over the next couple of months.

For a time it seemed there was no clear long-term successor to Kane, but with 18 months until the World Cup, this could be the perfect moment to integrate a potential heir.

While Tuchel became renowned for the effectiveness of his three-at-the-back formations during his time in English football with Chelsea, that is not necessarily his preferred tactical shape.

It is certainly a bonus that the many of the players in the Three Lions set-up are accustomed to playing with a back three under Southgate, but Tuchel has also frequently used a 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3 in recent years across his time with Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain and in west London - with the former his go-to at Bayern Munich.

Revered as a highly-adaptable master tactician, much will depend on which players he feels will fit which system. Given the attacking riches at his disposal, Tuchel may not want to sacrifice a potentially potent forward line by deploying a more pragmatic back three.

As we've mentioned, left-wing back will be a problem area, too, unless Shaw is fit, and Kieran Trippier - who was often used out of position on the left under the previous regime - has retired at international level. Harry Maguire's return to form is timely given he is adept in the heart of a back three, but the Three Lions also look short of options at right wing-back.

Whatever formation the manager does eventually pip for, getting the attacking constellation right poses a significant challenge. Kane may be an unquestionable starter, but Tuchel's selections on the wings and in attacking midfield are certain to draw scrutiny.

Southgate drew widespread criticism in the final days of his tenure for standing staunchly by Phil Foden at Euro 2024 despite his obvious struggles, while in-form Cole Palmer was left to warm the bench throughout the tournament, making a mockery of that decision by assisting in the semi-final and scoring a brilliant equaliser against Spain in the Berlin showpiece.

Form dictates that this should be a far easier call for Tuchel, with Foden's malaise dragging into the club season, while Palmer shows no signs of slowing down with 19 goal involvements to his name in 20 Premier League games.

Much will depend on whether Tuchel wants to use Jude Bellingham as a No.10 or in a deeper playmaking role, but at present there is little doubt that Chelsea's talisman should be a guaranteed starter in this new-look England side. Foden has work to do before March rolls around.

Foden and Jack Grealish's problems at Manchester City mean the left-wing role is fair game, and though Anthony Gordon will feel he is in pole position and Borussia Dortmund's impressive Jamie Gittens could earn a first senior call-up, an old face has moved back into the picture.

Jadon Sancho's shock loan move from Manchester United to Chelsea has so far paid dividends, with the 24-year-old enjoying a solid if unspectacular season as a first-team regular at Stamford Bridge. At times he has looked close to something like his best, and Tuchel will certainly want to have a close look at him in the coming weeks. The winger stands a good chance of getting his hands on a first England cap since September 2021.

There should finally be some clarity surrounding Ben White's England status in the near future, as we discover whether his self-imposed exile will end or that his issues transcend the coaching staff.

Tuchel has already confirmed that he will hold talks with the Arsenal defender, who could easily become a key player at the back for his country if he made himself available. Speaking at the World Cup qualifying draw in December, the manager said: “It should be a clean start and a clear narrative. It starts from January." When asked about White's potential return, he added: “Yes. I will reach out to him."

Indeed, it has been reported that White will end his exile in what is a huge boost to the Three Lions' planning for the 2026 World Cup, as he provides an elite option at both right-back and centre-back. However, the March international break might come too soon for the 27-year-old to make an impression, as he is still a few weeks away from returning to action after undergoing a procedure on his knee.

If he's been watching any Premier League football in recent months, Tuchel has probably already had this question answered for him.

It was reported when the former Chelsea boss was named Southgate's successor that goalkeeper Jordan Pickford had a fight on his hands to retain the No.1 jersey, with the incoming manager prepared to overlook reputations in his decision-making. Although that fight is set to continue in the lead-up to the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico over the next 18 months, in the short-term Pickford has answered questions over his status as England's first-choice stopper emphatically.

By December, Everton had kept more league clean sheets since Tuchel's appointment than any other club in Europe's top five divisions (seven), and that was thanks in no small part to Pickford's incredible displays between the sticks.

Tuchel had spoken about making 'difficult' and 'unpopular' decisions once his work began, and there is perhaps none tougher than forcibly bringing a player's international career to an end. A number of Southgate's trusted lieutenants over the past eight years face being overlooked with both age and competition for places dictating that they will face an uphill battle to ever reclaim their place in the squad.

Man City duo Kyle Walker and Grealish have both been horribly out of sorts at club level, Kalvin Phillips is struggling to nail down a starting place on loan at lowly Ipswich, Chelsea loanee Raheem Sterling is a fringe player at Arsenal and Ajax's Jordan Henderson hasn't been included in a squad for almost a year.

Maguire has certainly given himself a fighting chance with his resurgence at Manchester United, but recalls for the likes of Lewis Dunk and Nick Pope seem unlikely at this stage.