England 2026 World Cup watch: Rice, O'Reilly and why Tuchel can lean on other worthy influencers

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In the early weeks of the season, around 25 per cent of the players who started in the Premier League were eligible to play for England. According to Opta, over the course of the season, the number of England-eligible players who have started 10 or more games now stands at 81, which represents 53 per cent of all the players who have made the same number of starts or more. In total, there are 66 different nationalities who have made an appearance in the Premier League this season. The eclectic mix means there has been no easy run into starting line-ups for English players. The cream has had to rise to the top. In many ways, it has. We are getting to the stage of the season when individual player awards are handed out by the Professional Footballers’ Association — the player of the year and young player of the year — and two of Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup-bound players are strong contenders to claim their gongs. Arsenal’s Declan Rice is amongst the favourites for player of the year after a superbly consistent and influential campaign, while Nico O’Reilly has enjoyed a superb breakout season at Manchester City. Despite Rice and Arsenal’s early dominance, O’Reilly could yet finish the season by winning a domestic treble. They are the most eye-catching of the English contenders, with Rice staking his claim alongside Manchester United’s assist-king Bruno Fernandes, Golden Boot winner-elect Erling Haaland, or the excellent Antoine Semenyo, Rayan Cherki or Gabriel. But there are other English players who have made significant contributions to their club sides, and who would carry form to the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico. They may not draw the focus, but the influence they wield at their clubs suggests Tuchel does have a wealth of domestic-based quality from whom to pick. Jarrod Bowen has practically carried West Ham United this season with eight goals and 10 assists, helping to keep Nuno Espirito Santo’s side above the relegation zone with the finishing line in sight. Yes, his team have struggled, but Bowen has been a source of inspiration in a relegation scrap. The same applies to Nottingham Forest duo Elliot Anderson and Morgan Gibbs-White. The pair have been the standouts in a side who have struggled in the Premier League but have progressed to an all-English Europa League semi-final against Aston Villa. Gibbs-White has contributed 13 goals, the joint-highest total for an English player alongside Brighton & Hove Albion veteran Danny Welbeck. Despite their outstanding personal seasons, neither Gibbs-White nor Welbeck was included in Tuchel’s last 35-man squad in March. Nor did Manchester United’s Luke Shaw, who has put together a near-perfect campaign but has yet to convince the England manager he is worthy of a recall. James Garner has been productive for Everton, chipping in with two goals and six assists, with his form prompting a first senior recognition with the national side last month. His versatility could be an asset in North America, and his club side consider him a leader in the ranks — another whose contribution has been integral — whether he operates at full-back or in midfield. None of that group is likely to feature in the end-of-season awards roll call. Nor, presumably, will Bukayo Saka, whose contributions to Arsenal’s title push have been interrupted by hamstring, hip and Achilles injuries. Nor indeed Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers. Yet there is another who might be worthy of inclusion. Marc Guehi was a mainstay at Crystal Palace; an FA Cup-winning captain and inspiration whose consistent excellence in Oliver Glasner’s back three was almost taken for granted. Since his mid-season move to Manchester City, he has settled seamlessly under Pep Guardiola. Plenty have traditionally taken time to adapt to work under the six-time Premier League-winning manager, but he has hardly broken into a sweat. He is a natural on the ball, always comfortable venturing upfield in possession, and assured in the pass. But he is also an astute defender who has made the leap to the Etihad Stadium with ease. Ineligible for the Carabao Cup, his rewards at City could yet be FA Cup and Premier League success. Tuchel will surely consider him as a first-choice centre-back. Perhaps Guehi will be recognised by his fellow professionals next month. Regardless, while Rice feels the likeliest to muscle Fernandes or Haaland off the podium at the PFA awards, there is a depth of England-qualified quality in the Premier League beyond the obvious. Throw in Harry Kane, whose prolific season at Bayern Munich — he has scored an astonishing 53 goals in 45 games — could yet yield him a Ballon d’Or, and Jude Bellingham at Real Madrid, and maybe there are sound grounds for optimism this summer. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms