Thomas Tuchel is weighing up a surprise move to promote Arsenal sensation Max Dowman into England’s senior setup as a mounting injury crisis strips his squad of key personnel.
Injury crisis forces Tuchel to consider Arsenal’s Max Dowman for England
Arsenal’s Max Dowman Emerges as Surprise Option for Tuchel’s England
The German coach is exploring the possibility of inviting the 16-year-old to train at St George’s Park after five senior stars withdrew from the upcoming international window.
The mass exodus includes Declan Rice, Cole Palmer, Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo, and Tino Livramento, all of whom have pulled out due to fitness and workload concerns.
This sudden depletion forces Tuchel to look toward the future as he prepares for four Nations League fixtures against Spain, Czechia, and Croatia.
Dowman, who is already with England’s Under-19 squad, presents a convenient option since he is already on site.
The opportunity would cap a meteoric rise for the teenager, who made Premier League history in March by becoming the competition’s youngest-ever goalscorer at 16 years and 73 days old against Everton.
He has maintained that momentum this season, netting twice in Arsenal’s recent Carabao Cup victory over Ipswich Town.
While the FA confirmed replacements for the senior side by drafting in Everton’s James Garner and Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White, Tuchel remains eager to assess his long-term options ahead of Euro 2028.
Dowman’s potential involvement follows the inclusion of Liverpool teenager Rio Ngumoha in the original squad, signaling a clear shift toward blooding young talent.
For now, Dowman is scheduled to face the Republic of Ireland with the U-19s on September 25, but a promotion to train alongside Harry Kane could serve as a massive accelerant in his development.
Tuchel clearly values the chance to evaluate this emerging talent at close quarters during a turbulent international break.
