Thomas Tuchel’s blunt statement indicates England squad for World Cup is out of reach for Luke Shaw

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Manchester United defender Luke Shaw was omitted from Thomas Tuchel’s latest England squad.

A superb season at club level for Luke Shaw has not been rewarded with an England call-up.

Manchester United teammates Kobbie Maguire and Harry Maguire have both been named in the 35-man squad for the upcoming friendlies with Uruguay and Japan.

Shaw has shaken off his persistent injury troubles to start all 30 games for Manchester United in 2025/26 so far.

This has not been enough to win over Thomas Tuchel, and his comments at the press conference paint a bleak picture for the Manchester United defender.

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Thomas Tuchel comments

Thomas Tuchel has named a 35-man squad because he wants to explore his options heading into the World Cup. This is the final mid-season international break.

The player arrivals at the camp will also be staggered, allowing Tuchel greater time with ‘new’ faces in his squad like Mainoo and Maguire.

Quoted via PA reporter Simon Peach, Tuchel said: “They’ve had an outstanding run since Michael Carrick took charge and Harry and Kobbie have played a big part in that. Last chance to get to know new players.”

Tuchel’s ‘last chance’ comment indicates that there is no way back for Luke Shaw ahead of the World Cup.

Only an injury crisis at left-back could change his mind.

Otherwise it looks as though Shaw, 30, is part of England’s past rather than the present or the future.

It is the complete opposite to Shaw’s fortune in 2023/24, when he struggled with injuries, only starting in 12 Premier League games, and none between February and May.

Gareth Southgate called him up anyway, even though he was not fit enough to play until the semi-finals.

Not only are days of a ‘free pass’ for Shaw over; there is seemingly nothing he can do to get back in the squad.

This season could not have gone better for Shaw at club level, where he is a regular starter for a team in third place in the Premier League.

Tuchel has found space to recall Mainoo and Maguire, but Shaw is out of the picture entirely.

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Mason Mount’s chances also look bleak

Another player who looks to have run out of time is Manchester United midfielder Mason Mount.

Tuchel admires Mount, working with him previously at Chelsea, and has always insisted that the door would be open for England if he could prove himself at club level.

While Mount returned to the United bench for the recent win over Aston Villa, he has not played a single minute since the Manchester Derby in mid-January.

England’s midfield and attack is already an area of the squad where the team is overloaded with options, and it appears there is little chance of a late breakthrough.

Full England squad

The full England squad named by Thomas Tuchel can be seen below…