England’s Trippier Might Unretire to Help Tuchel Fix Left-Back Crisis Ahead of World Cup 2026

Trippier mulls England return under Tuchel

Kieran Trippier, Newcastle United’s right-back with 54 international caps, has signalled his willingness to reverse his international retirement after informing England’s new coach Thomas Tuchel that he can help fix the team’s left-back problem.

Trippier announced his international retirement after England’s Euro 2024 final loss to Spain, but he has previously filled in at left-back under Gareth Southgate and now says he is ready to return if Tuchel asks.

Tuchel has faced a shortage of natural left-backs, with England’s wins over Serbia and Albania showing the need for cover. Players who mainly operate on the right, like Nico Orioli and Djed Spence, were pressed into the left-back role.

Trippier, now 35, told The Sun that retirement felt right at the time, but he misses the atmosphere, the banter, and the staff, and he would not rule out a comeback if selected by Tuchel.

He added that Tuchel is a great manager and that a call or invitation could be enough to reconsider his status, hoping the German coach is the right man to bring a trophy home to England.

Tuchel’s evolving plan for the left-back position

The German manager appears open to using a right-back in the left-back slot, a departure from Gareth Southgate’s typical approach, especially with Luke Shaw left out of the latest squad.

In England’s November squad, Nico Orioli was the main option at left-back, with Dan Burn capable of playing there when required, though he is deployed as a centre-back in Tuchel’s system.

Two Newcastle teammates are also in the mix for the left-back slot: Tino Livramento, a versatile left-back who can cover both sides but is recovering from a knee injury, and Louis Hall, a 21-year-old who has shown natural potential in the position.

With such limited options and Trippier’s willingness to return, Tuchel has the opportunity to rethink England’s left flank ahead of the next phase.

There has even been talk of Trent Alexander-Arnold, currently with Liverpool, as a potential returnee. Tuchel has discussed visiting Madrid to talk with him and possibly other players to map out their international futures.

Transparency and a large pool of players

Tuchel has stated that he will be transparent with players, including those who are not regularly called up. He described a pool of roughly 55 to 60 players and said he will reach out to each one, explaining omissions and outlining what they can do to improve or whether a decision remains tactical.

Alexander-Arnold remains the standout absentee who could still return, making a Madrid meeting realistic. Tuchel joked about organizing group visits and emphasized that even video calls are useful to gauge players’ expressions and seriousness.

The plan for the coming period is to communicate clearly about roles and progression, ensuring every player understands where they stand in the national team’s plans.

To close with a touch of realism, Tuchel indicated that the road to the World Cup in 2026 will require frank conversations and ongoing evaluation, including visits to clubs and in-training grounds to assess players face to face.

Two friendly matches in March ahead of the 2026 World Cup will offer a first real gauge of how England’s left side might shape up under this evolving approach.