England uncapped players: Newcastle and Liverpool stars among those who could earn 2026 World Cup squad place

Lee Carsley has named his third and final England squad as interim boss before stepping back into his role with the Under-21s.

During Carsely’s brief stint in the Wembley hot seat he has already offered fans a tantalising glimpse into the future thinking of the team ahead of the 2026 World Cup, with the likes of Angel Gomes, Morgan Gibbs-White and Noni Madueke all picking up their first international caps.

His interim stint has also marked a first call-up in seven years for striker Dominic Solanke, and more regular opportunities for players on the periphery of Gareth Southgate’s thinking such as Trent Alexander-Arnold, Anthony Gordon and Cole Palmer. Not to mention an unorthodox starting line-up consisting of three number 10s against Greece… Okay it probably is best we leave that experiment in the past.

Carsley’s final squad also features first call-ups for Newcastle United’s Lewis Hall - who in the eyes of some pundits is the long-term answer to England’s left back conundrum. While there is also a more eyebrow raising first call-up for Southampton centre back Taylor Harwood-Bellis, who was a key component of Carsely’s Euro winning team at Under-21 level.

The pair will both hope to showcase their potential in the final weeks before the high-profile arrival of German coach Thomas Tuchel, who has been a serial winner at Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Bayern Munich in the past.

But who are the best uncapped England stars that fans can still expect to see burst onto the international scene in the near future? Using our crystal ball, we’ve taken a look at five outstanding uncapped talents to watch out for.

Tino Livramento: Newcastle United

England already have an abundance of quality in the right-back position but it appears only a matter of time before Tino Livramento gets his chance to stake a claim.

The 21-year-old has long been recognised as one of the country’s best young defenders at various age groups and has already risen through the ranks from the under-15 team to the under-21 team in the last eight years, racking up 35 appearances in the process.

The Newcastle United youngster has showcased his versatility at times by filling in on the other side of the defence and is blessed with incredible speed, awareness, technical ability and an eye for getting forward and creating chances. In recent weeks, he has catapulted himself above the recently retired 54-cap international Kieran Trippier in the St. James’ Park pecking order and has been described by Glen Johnson as the very best right-back in the Premier League right now.

He was included in both of Lee Carsely’s first two England squads but is still waiting for his first senior international cap.

Leif Davis: Ipswich Town

England are blessed with plenty of options at right-back but currently find themselves in a very different situation when it comes to the left side of their defensive unit. First choice left back Luke Shaw has had a nightmare with injuries which has seen him make just four league appearances for Manchester United this calendar year. 

While 21-time international Ben Chilwell, who has struggled with injuries himself, currently finds himself rotting in the reserves at Chelsea in a dramatic fall from grace.

This leaves the door open for Ipswich Town defender Leif Davis to stake a claim for an international call-up as he aims to make his mark in his first top-flight season with the Tractor Boys.

England looked stifled on the left hand side throughout the Euros with Kieran Trippier and Phil Foden both playing makeshift roles throughout the competition. In truth, neither were able to pose a real threat going forward in their unnatural position and almost all of the team’s creativity came from the other side of the pitch.

Creativity is an area where Davis excels. He made a staggering 18 assists from left-back for the Tractor Boys in the Championship last season, adding to the 14 he achieved in League One the year before - and is now already proving that he can continue to perform in the top-flight with one goal and two assists for a team struggling for form.

The 24-year-old currently finds himself in a battle with another rising star in Newcastle United’s Lewis Hall but could prove to be another viable option for Thomas Tuchel moving forward.

Lewis Hall: Newcastle United

Thomas Tuchel was the man who handed Lewis Hall his debut during his time at Chelsea, but the 20-year-old could well have made his England debut before the German makes his way through the door at St. Georges’ Park.

Hall was one of the bright sparks for Chelsea in a forgettable 2022/23 campaign and after an initial bedding in period on Tyneside has now established himself as a first team regular.

The Berkshire born defender is blessed with exuberance and pace, thrives in a high-press system, and is renowned for his excellent passing range and creativity.

While he only has one assist for his club (alongside his two against Austria at under-21 level) there is evidence that his productivity will be impressive in the long-run - for starters, he boasts a cross completion rate of 34% which is one of the best in the division - and currently around double the figure even Trent Alexander-Arnold has managed.

Hall was brought to Newcastle with a reputation for going forward, having starred as a central midfielder in the Blues academy, but in recent weeks he has improved his defensive qualities and this was highlighted by his new perfect display against Bukayo Saka which saw him win five tackles, four aerial duels whilst also making a match-winning clearance off his own goal line.

Curtis Jones - Liverpool

Of all the names in this list, it is arguably the most surprising that Curtis Jones, who has racked up over 150 appearances for Liverpool, has not yet been handed his international debut.

But it only seems a matter of time before he gets his chance. The 23-year-old has made 43 appearances for England at various age groups barring the senior team and was the match-winner officially, if not entirely purposefully for the Under-21 team when they secured victory over Spain in the European Championships under Lee Carsley.

Under Jurgen Klopp, Jones was always on the periphery of the Liverpool team and was seen as a vital squad player in a team competing at the top of the table. But under Arne Slot, his game has reached new heights. 

He recorded a goal and an assist in a Man of the Match performance against Chelsea, along with an outrageous assist in a comprehensive Champions League victory over Bayer Leverkusen. His team are currently the top performing side in England and Europe - and a great deal of that has to be credited Jones’ dominant performances in the middle of the park.

“Curtis is an all-around player, plays in various positions. I highly rate him. He’s one of the best I’ve worked with in terms of ability.” Lee Carsley said in his most recent press conference.

Jamie Gittens - Borussia Dortmund

England are blessed with plenty of attacking talent in the Premier League, but one star that continues to make waves overseas is winger Jamie Gittens.

The former Manchester City and Chelsea academy star followed a similar path to Jadon Sancho by moving to German side Borussia Dortmund as a teenager, and after a number of notable performances in the UEFA Youth League was promoted to the first team in 2022 by then manager Marco Rose.

Gittens, who won the Under-19 European Championship with England in the same year as his senior debut, showed signs of promise in his first three seasons at Dortmund, particularly last term where he registered a goal and an assist in a fantastic 3-1 victory away to AC Milan en route to the Champions League final.

However, it is this season where his performances have really made everyone in Europe take note of him. So far, he boasts a record of five goals and two assists in 15 appearances across all competitions, including goals against Real Madrid, Club Brugge and Celtic in the Champions League and a double against Eintracht Frankfurt on the opening day.

Gittens is blessed with electric pace, agility and an incredible ability to seamlessly dribble past defenders. He is likely to be a player that Thomas Tuchel is very familiar with from his time in the Bundesliga and one that could potentially push Anthony Gordon for a starting spot on the left wing.