Thomas Tuchel names his England squad on Friday, and the late debate is being driven by Luke Shaw's revived Manchester United form and Levi Colwill's belated return to fitness. Shaw is in contention after a season that has finally given him some rhythm again. Colwill, by contrast, has only just come back into the picture after a long layoff.
Shaw has done the part England can actually trust
Shaw's case starts with availability. He won the last of his 34 England caps in the Euro 2024 final defeat by Spain, then missed the vast majority of the 2024-25 season through injury, featuring in only seven league games. This season has looked different. He has 37 appearances, averaged 7.12 across his last five Manchester United matches and played at least 73 minutes in each of those five outings.
He also scored his first Premier League goal since January 2023 against Nottingham Forest. That is not a full attacking argument for a recall, and it does not need to be. Brian Carrick's view was plain enough on BBC.co.uk: "I haven't got much sway in the matter at all, but I certainly think so. Again, the consistency, just what he's capable of doing. The performance, the experience, his strengths, his attributes that he's got. He's a fantastic full-back."
That is the case for Shaw in a nutshell. He has not been perfect, but he has been available, fit and steady, which matters more than reputation at this point.
Colwill's return leaves Tuchel with a risk call
Colwill's situation is much less secure. He missed the majority of the 2025-26 season after surgery on a serious knee injury last August. He returned as a half-time substitute in the 3-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest and then played the full 90 minutes in the recent 1-1 draw with Chelsea's meeting with Liverpool. The reported longlist submitted to FIFA was 55 names by Monday's deadline, but that remains a reported figure rather than a confirmed official release.
The fitness data is encouraging without being decisive. Colwill's recent 6.9 rating across his latest outings and 425 minutes over his last five matches show he is back on the pitch, but the sample is still small after such a serious injury. That is why this feels like a choice between a player who has rebuilt his rhythm across the season and one who is still being judged on how quickly he has returned.
Tuchel can still keep Colwill in the conversation, and the report from Sports Mole suggests he is there. But Shaw's body of work is cleaner, and in a selection argument this late, that matters.
FAQ
Is Luke Shaw likely to make Thomas Tuchel's England World Cup squad?
The brief supports Shaw as a serious contender, not a certainty. He has 37 appearances this season, averaged 7.12 across his last five Manchester United matches and has played five straight games of at least 73 minutes. He also scored his first Premier League goal since January 2023 against Nottingham Forest.
Why is Levi Colwill's England World Cup place being treated as a fitness gamble?
Colwill missed the majority of the 2025-26 season after surgery on a serious knee injury last August. He has only recently returned, with a half-time appearance against Nottingham Forest and then a full 90 minutes in the 1-1 draw with Liverpool. That recovery is enough to keep him in contention, but not enough to remove the fitness question.
What did Brian Carrick say about Luke Shaw's England recall chances?
Brian Carrick said Shaw's consistency, performance, experience, strengths and attributes make him a strong recall case. He told BBC.co.uk, 'I haven't got much sway in the matter at all, but I certainly think so.'
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →
