Thomas Tuchel, the new England national team head coach, warmly greeted Dan Burn and Myles Lewis-Skelly as the players arrived at St George’s Park.
Tuchel, known for his Champions League victory with Chelsea in 2021, is preparing to manage England in their upcoming two matches.
England is set to face Albania on Friday and Latvia the following Monday, both games are World Cup qualifiers and will be played at Wembley Stadium.
The players appeared enthusiastic as they arrived for training under their new manager.
Burn from Newcastle, fresh off a League Cup final victory, and Lewis-Skelly of Arsenal were personally welcomed with hugs from Tuchel.
These two defenders are potential candidates for their first senior international appearances in what could be a revamped England defensive lineup.
Returning to the squad were experienced players Jordan Henderson and Marcus Rashford, both of whom were not part of the Euro 2024 team last summer.
Although Rashford hasn’t scored since his loan move to Aston Villa from Manchester United, he has contributed four assists.
His most recent England appearance was as a substitute in a friendly against Brazil in March 2024, which England lost 1-0.
Henderson, who is currently captaining Ajax, last played for his country in November 2023.
Henderson, formerly of Sunderland, was seen sharing a laugh with Burn of Newcastle.
Tuchel previously stated his belief in Burn and Henderson’s potential to be part of the World Cup squad.
He emphasized that international football requires team spirit and brotherhood, which necessitates a balance of both young and experienced players.
Tuchel highlighted the leadership, humility, and high standards that players like Burn and Henderson bring to the team.
He also expressed surprise that Burn had not been called up to the national team before, despite his obvious qualities.
Initially, there was surprise when Morgan Gibbs-White of Nottingham Forest was not included by Tuchel.
However, Gibbs-White has now joined the squad, replacing the injured Chelsea player Cole Palmer. Gibbs-White has already earned two senior caps for England.
Chelsea captain James, who last played for England in 2023, also reunited with Tuchel, his former Chelsea manager, upon his return from injury.
Marcus Bellamy