Tuchel leaves Lewis-Skelly out of England squad for World Cup qualifier against Serbia

 

England manager Thomas Tuchel has left Arsenal defender Miles Lewis-Skelly out of the squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifier against Serbia. The 18 year old played the full 90 minutes in the Three Lions’ 2-0 win over Andorra at Villa Park but will not feature in Belgrade on Tuesday night. England, who sit top of Group K with four wins from four matches, will be looking to maintain their perfect record in qualifying and are firm favourites to secure victory despite Serbia’s home advantage.

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The decision to leave out Lewis-Skelly appears to be part of Tuchel’s rotation strategy. Former Liverpool defender Jarrell Quansah was rested against Andorra, and now it seems to be the Arsenal youngster’s turn. Reports suggest that Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi is fit again and could replace Lewis-Skelly in the squad for this clash. Tuchel is carefully managing his defensive options with a long qualification campaign ahead.

For Arsenal, the news will come as a relief. Lewis-Skelly has quickly become one of the brightest young talents in world football, and Mikel Arteta will be pleased to see his defender protected from overuse during the international break. With a crucial Premier League fixture against Nottingham Forest coming up this weekend, resting the teenager ensures he is fresh and available for selection.

Arsenal will be eager to bounce back after a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Liverpool before the international break. Lewis-Skelly has played an increasingly important role in Arteta’s plans, and keeping him fit will be vital for the Gunners’ ambitions this season. For England, Tuchel remains confident in the depth of his squad. Even without Lewis-Skelly, the Three Lions have enough quality to overcome Serbia and continue their march toward qualification for the 2026 World Cup. 

The decision highlights Tuchel’s pragmatic approach of balancing results with player welfare, especially for younger talents like Lewis-Skelly who are still adapting to the demands of top-level football.

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