Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden is not guaranteed a place in England’s 2026 World Cup squad, manager Thomas Tuchel said.

The 25-year-old has 49 senior caps but is out of form and has started only four of his club’s last 15 games. He last scored in the Premier League on December 14.

“Well, it’s not a guarantee that he will come,” Tuchel said after Foden was substituted in the second half of England’s 1-0 defeat to Japan at Wembley on Tuesday.

“Obviously he didn’t have a lot of minutes for City recently, then he came to camp with the brightest smile and was so good in training,” added the German.

“And I thought he will just surprise us and will play with the same verve and excitement but, yeah, he struggles to have the full impact.”

With striker and captain Harry Kane sidelined by injury, the Premier League player of the season in 2024 was handed a central role at Wembley but looked unconvincing as a false nine and registered the fewest touches of any England starter.

“If we put offensive players on the pitch we demand offensive actions, creativity, dribbling, shots and assists and we clearly didn’t have enough,” said Tuchel of his side’s performance.

The manager has to submit his squad for the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico by the end of May.