‘Please explain’ – Jeff Stelling calls out Tuchel for treatment of Nott’m Forest & Spurs stars

Thomas Tuchel’s tenure as England manager began with two comfortable victories in World Cup qualifiers, but legendary broadcaster Jeff Stelling has raised pointed questions about the German’s handling of fringe players.

While England dispatched Albania 2-0 and Latvia 3-0 with minimal fuss, the conspicuous absence of Morgan Gibbs-White and Dominic Solanke from both matchday squads has sparked debate about Tuchel’s selection philosophy.

The former Sky Sports anchor took to social media to challenge Tuchel’s decisions, posting: “So Thomas Tuchel. Two wins out of two. But please explain – and I am not a Forest fan – why Morgan Gibbs White got zero minutes. Ditto Dominic Solanke?” Stelling’s intervention highlights growing scrutiny over whether England’s new boss is properly evaluating his full squad during these ostensibly straightforward fixtures.

A comparison of the overlooked players’ club form makes their exclusion more perplexing:

Gibbs-White’s case proves particularly baffling given his transformative impact at Nottingham Forest this season. Initially omitted from Tuchel’s squad, the creative midfielder only received a late call-up due to Cole Palmer’s injury, then found himself among three players cut before the Albania match.

Though named on the bench against Latvia, he watched as Curtis Jones and Jordan Henderson received preferential treatment.

Solanke’s situation appears equally curious. The Tottenham striker has outperformed expectations with 11 goals across all competitions, yet remained rooted to the bench while Harry Kane played every minute of both qualifiers.

While Kane’s legendary status justifies some involvement – he extended his record England tally to 71 goals – these matches presented an ideal opportunity to assess alternative options.

Roy Keane offered measured praise for Tuchel’s start, awarding the new manager a “C+” grade and noting: “The two games on paper were very easy… There’s loads of bits to improve.” The former Manchester United captain’s assessment reflects broader sentiment – satisfaction with results but lingering questions about squad utilization.

Tuchel’s conservative approach contrasts sharply with predecessor Gareth Southgate’s willingness to blood new talent in low-stakes fixtures. The decision to prioritize veteran presence over evaluating emerging options suggests the former Chelsea boss may view these qualifiers purely as results exercises rather than squad-building opportunities.

As England prepare for September’s Nations League fixtures, Tuchel faces mounting pressure to demonstrate more adventurous squad management.

With Gibbs-White and Solanke returning to their clubs without game time, the German tactician risks alienating in-form Premier League performers who could prove crucial during the grueling World Cup qualification campaign.

For now, the perfect start papered over selection controversies, but Stelling’s public challenge signals that England’s fanbase and pundits expect more than just victories from their new manager – they demand a vision that develops the entire squad, not just the established stars.