Dub them Lee Carsley's Young Guns. There were eight of them, each earning their first England cap under the interim manager during his six-game tenure; moments they will cherish forever. Here they are, in the order they debuted: Angel Gomes, Morgan Gibbs-White, Noni Madueke, Curtis Jones, Lewis Hall, Morgan Rogers, Tino Livramento, and Taylor Harwood-Bellis. For Carsley, who knew them all from his time managing the England Under-21s, it was natural to trust them. "I didn't view it as a risk," he said following Sunday's 5-0 victory over the Republic of Ireland at Wembley, a result that secured England's promotion back to the Nations League's top tier. "The standout quality of these young players is their mindset. Any obstacle you set for them is not insurmountable. We've witnessed that. The real test for them is to make the squad in March."

That will mark Thomas Tuchel's first squad selection as England manager, kicking off his pursuit of World Cup glory in 2026. It will also see a return of more seasoned players, including those who missed Carsley's final camp due to fitness issues—Trent Alexander-Arnold, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, and Jack Grealish. The list excludes those already injured and not called up—John Stones, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, and Kobbie Mainoo.

Carsley's interim goals were twofold: secure Nations League promotion—preferably without the need for a playoff in March—and expand the talent pool for Tuchel. He achieved both. Yet, as Carsley discussed the squad's rejuvenated feel, a question lingered. Will Tuchel exhibit the same faith in the youngsters? This query has a rhetorical tone, partly due to Tuchel's mercenary-like appointment, his one-campaign contract, and the talk of World Cup success or failure. Tuchel will be a manager on a tight schedule and might not be inclined to select inexperienced players prone to errors as they acclimate.

Tuchel won't overlook young players simply because they lack caps. For instance, in the left-back position, where options are scarce, there might be a spot for Hall. However, if Shaw can overcome his injury woes, Tuchel likely won't feel the need to make a decision. Alexander-Arnold and Kyle Walker or Livramento at right-back? (Don't forget Reece James, another player plagued by fitness issues). Maguire or Harwood-Bellis in central defense?

England is undoubtedly well-stocked in attacking midfield roles, and it's unthinkable that Saka, Foden, and Palmer won't return. Grealish will most likely come back too. Saka or Madueke on the right wing? Regarding the starting role, there isn't much of a choice. Rogers faces competition from Anthony Gordon and Grealish on the left, not to mention Foden and Palmer if they were to be deployed there. Gibbs-White in the No 10 role? Or Jude Bellingham, Foden, or Palmer?

Assuming Tuchel opts for Saka on the right and Harry Kane as the striker, his most intriguing challenge will be fitting Bellingham, Foden, and Palmer into the lineup. This was a conundrum Gareth Southgate struggled with at Euro 2024; Carsley faced it too when all three were available. It's the Lampard-Gerrard dilemma and speaks to the nation's fixation on big-name players, especially in forward roles—and the reluctance to play just one. Finding a way to include two or more.

Carsley experimented with the trio in the first game against Greece at Wembley last month, albeit with Kane out injured. The result was a messy 2-1 defeat, which Carsley admits he will reflect on more than any of his five wins. On the flip side, perhaps the Greece debacle was the most instructive match for Tuchel, showing what not to do and, to some extent, silencing the armchair England managers across the country. "Yeah, potentially," Carsley said. "It didn't feel that way at the time. We probably didn't have enough time to prepare, and then to expect it to work seamlessly."

In midfield, Southgate was troubled by who to pair with Rice at the Euros. After the unsuccessful experiment with Alexander-Arnold, it didn't pan out with Conor Gallagher but improved with Mainoo. Carsley's introduction of Gomes and Jones has been significant. Could Tuchel find a place for Mason Mount, a player he relied on at Chelsea?

Carsley recalled an opinion shared by several coaches at UEFA's Euro 2024 debrief in September—that England's abundance of talent was more of a headache than a boon. He will never see it that way and perhaps the lesson for Tuchel is about the overall mix; the youngsters can contribute by intensifying competition for spots, ready to step in when needed.

"A lot of the international coaches at that UEFA event I attended said: 'You've got a lot of good players' as if that's a negative thing," Carsley said. "If they're all in top form simultaneously, it's a challenge. But players go in and out of form, and it's about putting them in the team when they're on fire and resting them when they're not."

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