England's winners and losers of Lee Carsley's reign as Thomas Tuchel prepares to take charge
England sealed top spot in their UEFA Nations League group after beating Ireland, with interim boss Lee Carsley preparing to hand over to new manager Thomas Tuchel
by Tom Victor · The MirrorAs Lee Carsley hands over the England managerial reins to Thomas Tuchel, there are positives and negatives to take from the 50-year-old's interim spell.
Thursday night's 3-0 win in Greece left the Three Lions in pole position to win their UEFA Nations League group. They made hard work of their finale against Ireland, going in level at the break, but benefited from a Liam Scales red card to score five without reply in the second half.
Carsley hasn't been afraid to mix things up during the Nations League campaign, handing out debuts and trying different approaches. More than 25 different players have featured across the six games, some for longer than others.
So, who has benefited from the interim spell, and who has suffered? Here, Mirror Football picks out the winners and losers from the Carsley era.
Winners
Curtis Jones
Curtis Jones might have fancied his chances of breaking into the Euro 2024 squad were it not for an injury-hit campaign last term. With his momentum halted, Kobbie Mainoo and Adam Wharton overtook him and ensured a call-up to the preliminary squad wasn't followed by on-field minutes.
Carsley hasn't been afraid to pick players on form, though, and few have been in better form lately than Jones. Liverpool boss Arne Slot pointed to the midfielder's growth since becoming a father, and a November call-up followed.
Who impressed you most under Lee Carsley? Have your say in the comments section
If Carsley was hoping the Liverpudlian might play with a spring in his step, he was in luck. Jones' debut goal was the kind of effort you're more likely to try if everything is going your way, and a second start brought a second win three days on.
Jack Grealish
Manchester City star Grealish wasn't part of the November camp, having missed his club's last three club games through injury. However, after the pain of missing out on the Euros, his resurgence under Carsley shouldn't be sniffed at.
It was a case of three games and two goals for Grealish, who had netted just twice in his previous 36 outings. The effort away in Ireland was particularly special, finding the far corner with a confident low finish.
There were moments at Euro 2024 where England looked desperate for a player of Grealish's invention and creativity. Despite only playing in half of Carsley's games, he will have given Tuchel plenty of food for thought.
Anthony Gordon
Newcastle winger Gordon might have been one of the happiest to see Carsley come in. He had starred in an advanced role under the forrner Everton midfielder for England's Under-21s, but saw opportunities limited under Gareth Southgate at Euro 2024.
The 23-year-old started five of Carsley's games, having only played a minute of competitive football - along with some friendly outings - under Southgate. He has to wait a little while for his first goal, but took it with aplomb when he volleyed home against Ireland.
Even better for Gordon, he already knows Tuchel is a fan. The incoming manager tried to sign him for Chelsea while in charge at Stamford Bridge, and one would expect the winger to have a place in the squad going forward.
Losers
Ivan Toney
Amid all the opportunities afforded to strikers this autumn, one name was conspicuous in its absence. Ivan Toney played his part during a limited time on the field at the Euros, but hasn't featured for England since his move to Al-Ahli.
Playing in the Saudi Pro League doesn't always mean those opportunities disappear, with N'Golo Kante noticeably forcing his way back into the France squad in time for Euro 2024. What it does mean, though, is that you're less visible to an England manager.
Visibility worked in Dominic Solanke's favour, with the striker's Tottenham goals earning him a first cap in seven years. Toney will now have to see how Tuchel views his switch, though the former Brentford star appears to be focused on his club football for the time being.
Marcus Rashford
Grealish wasn't the only notable omission from Southgate's final tournament squad. However, while the City man made a statement during the Nations League, Manchester United star Marcus Rashford wasn't given such an opportunity.
It's been a difficult year-and-a-bit for the 27-year-old, who last started for England a year ago to the day. He didn't make it into any of Carsley's three squads, while things have been tough at club level with a return of just one goal from 11 Premier League outings.
Rashford has a chance to impress a new boss at club level, with Ruben Amorim taking over at Old Trafford. If he can rebound under the Portuguese, perhaps he'll also be able to benefit from a change at international level.
Adam Wharton
Less than six months ago, Adam Wharton was the talk of the town as far as England were concerned. A fine end to the season with Crystal Palace saw him become a surprise inclusion at the Euros, though he remained on the bench for all seven tournament games.
Since that tournament, he has been nowhere to be seen. While Liverpool's Jones and Lille's Angel Gomes have played their way into the squad, the former Blackburn man has returned to the international wilderness.
Injuries have played a part as far as the November break was concerned, while time remains on his side - he's not 21 until February. It's been a challenging few months, though, with Palace's tough domestic start hardly offering much of a distraction.
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