Alex Scott Awaits Long-Anticipated England Debut

England manager Thomas Tuchel has chosen to leave Alex Scott out of the matchday squad for Thursday night’s World Cup qualifier against Serbia at Wembley Stadium.

The 22-year-old Bournemouth midfielder was one of the standout performers for England’s Under-21s during their triumphant European Championship campaign in the summer, and his impressive Premier League form this season earned him a maiden senior call-up earlier this month.

However, Tuchel has opted to rest the young midfielder for the opening fixture of this international window, with England already assured of qualification for next year’s World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Alex Scott remains part of the senior squad for the double-header against Serbia and Albania, but will not be involved in Thursday’s 23-man matchday selection.

Tuchel confirmed that Marc Guehi will also miss out, with the Crystal Palace defender sitting out training this week due to a foot problem. The England boss said the decision to exclude Scott was more tactical than fitness-related, explaining that he wants to manage the minutes of younger players carefully ahead of a long season.

Sources suggest that Morgan Rogers is expected to start in the No. 10 role, keeping his place ahead of returning stars Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden, both of whom are back in the squad after missing last month’s fixtures. Rogers’ dynamic performances in the previous qualifiers have impressed Tuchel, who sees him as a player capable of thriving between the lines.

England, who have already booked their spot at the 2026 World Cup, top their qualifying group with a perfect record under Tuchel. The German coach has won seven of his first eight games in charge, including six qualifiers without conceding a goal.

Thursday’s meeting with Serbia will be followed by Sunday’s trip to Albania, giving Tuchel another opportunity to experiment with his squad before next year’s tournament preparations begin in earnest.

For Alex Scott, the experience of training with the senior group marks another milestone in his rapid rise. Having already shown maturity and technical quality beyond his years, the midfielder will be hopeful of making his senior England debut before the international break concludes this weekend.