Marcus Rashford, James Maddison and six forgotten England players who deserve a recall in Thomas Tuchel's first Three Lions squad

Aaron Wan-Bissaka represented England at every age group, but has still never made a senior appearance, with an injury forcing him out of the only squad he was called into back in 2019. He holds dual nationality with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but is yet to represent the African nation at senior level, suggesting he is holding out for an eventual return to the England scene.

And there could be no better time for him to make his Three Lions bow. Wan-Bissaka's one-on-one defending has always been his major strength, but he has stepped up in an attacking sense since joining West Ham, and recently starred in the Hammers' shock win at Arsenal amid a run of directly contributing to four Premier League goals since November.

With Kyle Walker on the decline, England sure could do with another right-back who can defend reliably, while Wan-Bissaka's attacking improvements should only increase his chances of a long-awaited international bow.

Ivan Toney showed his capacity to make an instant impact when he set up Harry Kane's winner against Slovakia just a few minutes after coming off the bench at Euro 2024, while he also scored a penalty in the shootout win against Switzerland. He clearly felt he had deserved a bigger role in the tournament, but him moving away from the Premier League to join Al-Ahli effectively ended his international career.

But should it have? Toney is scoring for fun in Saudi Arabia, having netted 10 goals in his last six games to make it 21 for the season in the Pro League and AFC Champions League. England, meanwhile, still have few alternatives to Kane as a centre-forward, and the captain's fitness can never be taken for granted.

There is another argument for getting Toney involved again, too: Many England players - especially Kane - looked burned out at the Euros after a relentless European season, while several players who are now plying their trade in the Middle East, such as N'Golo Kante and Aymeric Laporte, looked refreshed due to the slower pace of the game at their new homes.

It does not feel right that a player of James Maddison's quality and capacity to make the difference in a flash has only made seven appearances for England. The midfielder has had a bit of a fraught relationship with the national team after he dropped out of a squad in 2019 having contracted the flu, only to be photographed in a casino days later. But Maddison's talent and recent form, namely his 17 goal contributions in 21 appearances, warrants him being given a second chance.

And Tuchel certainly seems to think so, having reached out to Maddison about the possibility of him returning to the squad. The Tottenham midfielder's flair could make a real difference to England when searching for a goal in a tight, tense knockout game, and after a Euro 2024 where so many players seemed afraid to step up, that alone feels like a reason for him to be recalled.

Marcus Rashford had been part of every England tournament squad since he broke through in 2016, so it was a huge shock when Southgate left him at home for Euro 2024, even if his performances for Manchester United did not justify his inclusion. Rashford's England career appeared to be over altogether after interim boss Lee Carsley discarded him for the six Nations League games, but Tuchel's appointment sparked speculation that a recall could be on the cards.

And Rashford would fully deserve another opportunity if it comes. He has revitalised his flagging career while on loan at Aston Villa, looking every bit the player who scored 30 goals in a season for United two years ago while thriving back in a 4-2-3-1 formation. He looks much more motivated, he looks sharp and he looks dangerous. He has provided three assists in his last four appearances for Unai Emery's side and has made a real impression on his team-mates in training.

Ben White would have been a shoo-in for Euro 2024 after two magnificent seasons with Arsenal had he not already burned his bridges with Southgate after asking not to be selected for international duty following his departure from the 2022 World Cup squad just two matches into the tournament. A disagreement with assistant coach Steve Holland was alleged to be the cause of the rift, although White also had plenty of competition for his place, having been behind Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier in the pecking order.

But Trippier now retired from international duty and Walker struggling for consistency at the age of 34, the time is ripe for White to make a fresh start with England and be part of the new regime. He has only just returned to action after three months out with a knee injury, but as long as he returns to full fitness and looks like the player he was before the setback, there is no reason why he should not be welcomed back into the fold by Tuchel.

Adam Wharton was a surprise last-minute call-up to Southgate's Euro 2024 squad, and his ability to unlock defences with his careful passing lifted hopes that the Three Lions would finally be able to run a midfield at a major tournament. Yet despite the initial excitement, Wharton never got a look-in, and he was subsequently frustrated again by Carsley, who opted against selecting him for the Nations League campaign.

The Crystal Palace midfielder suffered a big setback when he underwent surgery on a long-running groin problem in November, but after three months out, he has looked as good as new while helping Oliver Glasner's side continue their resurgent run of form. Top clubs have begun to monitor his progress again, with Real Madrid declaring their interest in a summer swoop, and given his return to form, Tuchel would be crazy not to take a look.