The six England Under 21s stars primed to burst through to senior squad for 2026 World Cup

England’s Under 21s squad is one brimming with talent that soon senior boss Thomas Tuchel will find it impossible to ignore this crop of youngsters.

For now Tuchel is looking to experience by bringing back the likes of Jordan Henderson, but Lee Carsley’s stacked 21s group features a number of players who are thriving already in the Premier League.

Arsenal’s 17-year-old superstar Ethan Nwaneri is in with the Under 21s for the first time in this camp, which features friendlies against France and Portugal, while others such as Archie Gray (Tottenham) and Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton) are regulars at club level.

The question on the lips of Three Lions fans is which ones are ready to make the step up? Specifically, who is on Tuchel and his staff’s radar looking ahead to the 2026 World Cup.

Under 21s reporter NATHAN SALT picks out six youngsters – with a combined seven senior caps between them – who are making a push to be on the plane to North America next summer.

The likes of Cole Palmer, Anthony Gordon and Morgan Gibbs-White have all now graduated into the senior squad from the European champions – who will be next to join them?

ETHAN NWANERI (Arsenal, 17, 0 senior caps)

Despite only now preparing to make his debut for England’s Under 21s in this camp, it feels a matter of time before Nwaneri is a central part of Tuchel’s senior side.

Turning 18 on Friday, Nwaneri has emerged this season to be one of Arsenal’s most important players and he continues to thrive with players years and years his senior. Deputising for the injured Bukayo Saka on the right wing, Nwaneri has scored eight goals in his first senior campaign, and still holds the Premier League record for its youngest player at just 15 years and 181 days in 2022.

There are a number of players in Lee Carsley’s group this week that are three or four years older than Nwaneri and yet he is the one that is playing regularly at the top end of the Premier League and in the Champions League, with Arsenal’s quarter-final against Real Madrid creeping up on the horizon.

Ethan Nwaneri is playing regularly at the top end of the Premier League and in the Champions League

His talent is undeniable and he has a level of unpredictability, as well as ability to play right across the front line as well as in midfield

The feeling at the FA is that they don’t want to jeopardise the long-term future of players like Nwaneri as they get accelerated.

But his talent is undeniable and his unpredictability, as well as ability to play right across the front line as well as in midfield, means he is one Tuchel needs to give serious consideration to making a key piece of his puzzle for the 2026 World Cup.

When a player has magic in their boots like Nwaneri does, sometimes you need to roll the dice. And if age is a concern… just look at Lamine Yamal with Spain. Nwaneri is ready.

ARCHIE GRAY (Tottenham, 19, 0 senior caps)

Mr Versatile. Gray has been stressed and tested by club boss Ange Postecoglou since moving to Tottenham but many believe he is better for it.

During the last Under 21s camp it was at right back where Gray was deployed by interim boss Ben Futcher in games against Spain and the Netherlands.

He has played at centre back mostly this season for Tottenham as well as in midfield, his preferred position.

He has played at centre back mostly this season for Tottenham as well as in midfield, his preferred position

Gray has only just turned 19 and will have his sights set on the World Cup next year

Building a squad for a tournament is as much about pre-emptively working on solutions to cover for injuries and Gray’s adaptability, as well as his technical ability, means that he is certainly on Tuchel’s radar.

Defensive-minded midfielders, as well as full backs, are areas of concern for Tuchel. And with Gray playing regularly in the Premier League, as well as in Europe, he will have his sights set on following up this summer’s Under 21 European Championship with a major tournament with the seniors in 2026.

RICO LEWIS (Manchester City, 20, 5 senior caps)

Lewis is likely to miss out on this summer’s Under 21 Euros due to Manchester City’s involvement in the Club World Cup, but his eyes are undoubtedly going to be locked onto the 2026 World Cup.

With five senior caps to his name, Lewis is the most experienced with the Three Lions of all six players picked out on this list and that should stand him in good stead.

Former England boss Gareth Southgate was a big admirer of Lewis and handed him his first senior call-up at the age of 18.

Rico Lewis is a mainstay in the Manchester City team at the age of just 20

He has five senior caps already but has oscillated between the Under 21s and senior squad

Now, at the age of 20, the defender, primarily operating off the left side but also adept in midfield, simply needs to stay fit and continue to get regular game time for City to make his case.

Lewis is currently oscillating between the Under 21s and seniors and both are valuable at this point in his development.

But given he is playing at one of the biggest teams in Europe, offers huge versatility and only turns 21 later this year, missing out on Tuchel’s squad for the 2026 World Cup would be a huge disappointment.

He feels the most nailed-on graduate from this Under 21 group to be on the plane in just over 12 months’ time.

ADAM WHARTON (Crystal Palace, 21, 1 senior cap)

One of the most exciting midfield talents England has produced in recent years, Wharton is firmly in the minds of Tuchel and his staff.

Having been drafted in to train with the seniors earlier this week he was given a ‘rest day’ as the Under 21s trained on Wednesday and his days in the youth ranks feel numbered, as Tuchel goes in search of intelligent players who can deliver his increasingly specific gameplans.

Adam Wharton was drafted into the senior squad to train earlier this week

The Crystal Palace man is a classy player and is being closely watched by Real Madrid

Wharton is as intelligent as he will find and the Crystal Palace midfielder, who Mail Sport recently revealed is being closely monitored by Real Madrid, is expected to cause a frenzy this summer as clubs jockey to get him out of south London.

Perhaps the most surprising thing with Wharton is that he has just one senior cap to his name so far but many more are due to follow. He was part of the 26-man squad that reach the Euros final last summer but did not get onto the pitch in Germany.

Tuchel is blessed with plenty of attacking midfielders in the form of Jude Bellingham, Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, Anthony Gordon, Morgan Rogers and many others, but his teams always need balance and Wharton may be the long-term partner to sit alongside Declan Rice.

JARRAD BRANTHWAITE (Everton, 22, 1 senior cap)

There are plenty of question marks around England’s depth at centre back moving forward with doubts around established internationals like Harry Maguire and John Stones – and Branthwaite is one of those in the driving seat in the next crop coming through.

It remains to be seen if Tuchel is to play three at the back, and if that is the case it is hard to ignore the case being presented by Branthwaite, a player valued at north of £70million following his stellar form for Everton.

Jarrad Branthwaite has a growing reputation as one of England’s best young defenders

Manchester United and Manchester City have been among his suitors in recent seasons and the commanding centre back has the flair and deft touch that others his size lack

Manchester United and Manchester City have been among his suitors in recent seasons and the commanding centre back has the flair and deft touch that others his size lack, making him an intriguing all rounder for Tuchel to look at.

Kyle Walker, Marc Guehi and Ezri Konsa are other options for the seniors at centre back but recovery speed is often key in the left or right centre back role and Branthwaite has shown that on ample occasion.

He was overlooked in favour of Taylor Harwood-Bellis this week when Tuchel needed a centre back to step up into senior training, but now is the time to buy Branthwaite stocks if you haven’t already.

LIAM DELAP (Ipswich Town, 22, 0 senior caps)

He said it himself on Wednesday morning at St George’s Park: the plan is Under 21 Euros AND the 2026 World Cup.

The barrel-chested Ipswich forward’s ambition cannot be faulted – and you would question him if he didn’t feel like he could play a part in both – and a big-money move this summer amid interest from Chelsea and Manchester United would only see his stock rise.

Liam Delap was also drafted into senior training this week and spent time with Harry Kane

Ten goals and counting so far in his maiden Premier League season is a sign of Delap’s quality and he is only getting better

Tuchel got a closer look at Delap earlier this week when he joined Wharton and Harwood-Bellis in training with the first team and he got a lot out of working with, and chatting to, Harry Kane.

Centree forward is an area where there is plenty of competition and with question marks over Ivan Toney now he is playing in Saudi Arabia, and Ollie Watkins left out of this squad, Delap will be increasingly aware that the role as back-up to Kane is there for someone to grab with both hands.

Ten goals and counting so far in his maiden Premier League season is a sign of Delap’s quality and he is only getting better.

On his current trajectory, it would be a shock if Delap wasn’t with the main group in 2026.