UMVA has learned that former England captain Alan Shearer has made a bold prediction about the upcoming England World Cup squad, and it's set to leave fans stunned.
According to Shearer's insider knowledge, Myles Lewis-Skelly is likely to be one of the high-profile omissions from Thomas Tuchel's squad, despite his impressive performances for Arsenal this season. Lewis-Skelly had scored the first goal of the Tuchel era last March against Albania, but his minutes dried up at Arsenal, making his spot on the team uncertain.
However, the teenager has enjoyed a resurgent end of the season under Mikel Arteta, displacing Martin Zubimendi and starting in central midfield alongside Declan Rice for key games in the end-of-season run-in. This surge in form has raised hopes that he might still make the cut, but Shearer remains skeptical.
Shearer suspects that Lewis-Skelly might not have done enough to force his way into Tuchel's squad, which is set to be announced on Friday. The former England captain believes that Tuchel has other players in mind, such as Hall and Livramento, who might be preferred over Lewis-Skelly.
One player who appears guaranteed to miss out on the squad is Harry Maguire, who took to social media to share his disappointment at his impending omission. Shearer wondered whether Dan Burn's added time spent with Tuchel in England camps compared to Maguire may have proved the pivotal factor in Tuchel's decision-making process.
Shearer also weighed in on the selection of other players, suggesting that Konsa and Guehi are guaranteed spots, while Jon Stones will likely be chosen for his experience. When it comes to the final spot, Shearer thinks Tuchel might opt for Dan Burn over Harry Maguire due to their familiarity and rapport.
Reports suggest that high-profile names such as Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, and Morgan Gibbs-White are set to miss out on Tuchel's squad for this summer's tournament. But Shearer suspects that Tuchel will give no consideration to any potential fan or media furore when finalizing his picks.
Shearer believes that Tuchel's extensive experience will shield him from outside opinions, and he will only consider his own thoughts when making the tough decisions. This assurance might just give Tuchel the confidence to make some bold selections and stick to his guns.
