New Delhi: England manager Thomas Tuchel has opened the door for a potential international return of the three Manchester United players ahead of next month’s international break.

Tuchel was speaking in Brussels after the UEFA Nations League draw, where the Three Lions learned their opponents for the upcoming campaign. England were drawn in Group A3 and will face Spain, Croatia and Czechia in the next edition of the tournament.

The fifth edition of the Nations League will take place from September 2026 to June 2027. Before that, the Three Lions will continue their preparations for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup with friendlies against Uruguay and Japan in March at Wembley.

Tuchel confirms three Manchester United players back in contention for England

The England manager has confirmed that three Manchester United players, Kobbie Mainoo, Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire are back in the picture ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

The trio have started in all five matches since Michael Carrick became Manchester United’s head coach until the end of the season, with the club winning four and drawing one of those Premier League games.

“It is great that [Mainoo] is back on the pitch. He is such a huge talent,” Tuchel said on Thursday while attending the UEFA Nations League draw.

“He has played already a tournament from start to finish for England, so he is back in the picture, so is Luke Shaw and so is Harry [Maguire]. There are some players suddenly back in the picture.”

He further added that they play a back four now, and play with a different style, which is a bit easier to translate into England’s structure at the moment. Tuchel has recently signed a new contract extension that will see him remain head coach of England through to the end of Euro 2028 in the UK and Ireland.