King and Lankshear among candidates for England debuts

Thomas Tuchel is expected to name his next England squad on Friday, with Fulham midfielder Josh King and Middlesbrough striker Will Lankshear among the possible first-time call-ups for November’s Nations League matches against Croatia and Spain.

England are close to securing a place in the knockout stage after beating Croatia 7-0 last time out. The remaining question is whether they can finish top of the group before next March’s quarter-finals.

BBC Sport identifies King, 19, as a candidate after Tuchel said he was close to a senior call-up. King has impressed for England’s Under-21s, but competition for his preferred attacking midfield role includes Jude Bellingham.

Lankshear, 21, has scored 15 goals in all competitions this season, including 13 in 13 Championship games. The former Tottenham striker made his Under-21 debut in the previous international window and scored. He missed Middlesbrough’s defeat by Wrexham with a tweaked hamstring, though he could return for Saturday’s match.

Other possible additions include Everton’s Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Nottingham Forest captain Morgan Gibbs-White. Dewsbury-Hall has two goals and two assists this season, but BBC Sport notes that James Garner was called up ahead of him during the previous break. Gibbs-White joined that camp as a late replacement in September, though he did not start a match.

Arsenal defender Ben White could also return after missing the start of the campaign through injury. Tuchel said in September that White would have been selected if fit; he is now available for all but one of Arsenal’s matches this season. Right-back Reece James is injured.

Jordan Henderson is another potential recall. The 36-year-old, who has not been in an England squad since the World Cup, has started five consecutive games for Chelsea and scored twice against Bournemouth before missing the win over Manchester United through injury.

The names remain possibilities ahead of Tuchel’s announcement. England’s established options include Harry Kane, Bellingham and Declan Rice, while injuries to some players who helped the team reach the World Cup semi-finals have opened up places in the squad.