- Crystal Palace star Wharton eyeing World Cup spot
- Ex-Chelsea man doubts his chances
- Eagles midfielder pulled out of ongoing international duty
Adam Wharton withdrew from Thomas Tuchel’s England squad after picking up a knock in his second-half cameo during the Three Lions’ 1-1 draw against Uruguay last week.
One name on a seven-man list to withdraw from the squad ahead of the second friendly against Japan on Tuesday evening, Wharton’s withdrawal has increased doubt over a World Cup starting place for the Palace man.
Tony Cascarino has suggested Wharton will struggle to make Tuchel’s squad for the tournament in the USA, Mexico and Canada. He does have plenty of competition in midfield.
Cascarino ‘Not Too Sure’ Wharton Goes to World Cup
“I don’t think he’s in the starting lineup. I think he’ll do well to make the squad”, said former Ireland international Cascarino on talkSPORT, speaking on Wharton’s appearances for England so far.
“He’d done alright when he came on the other night, I thought he came on and handled it really well, but I’m not too sure how close he is to the full squad.”
Wharton, who is still only 22-years-old, is fighting for a place in a competitive midfield. Arsenal’s Declan Rice is a shoo-in to start, but the question of who partners him remains unanswered. Elliott Anderson has played 6 of England’s last 7 games and has received strong praise from Tuchel.
Whilst Wharton competed well against a physical Uruguayan midfield, including Real Madrid’s Champions League hat-trick hero Fede Valverde, his withdrawal feels like a potential roadblock for his World Cup hopes.
Wharton Setback
Everton’s James Garner earned his first England Cap against Uruguay, and Tuchel referred to him as England’s “Mini Valverde”, strong praise for the former Manchester United man, who has had a strong season for the Toffees.
Injuries hampered Wharton’s impact on the European Championships in 2024, playing zero minutes across the tournament that concluded with England’s 2-1 defeat to Spain in the final.
There is still time for Wharton to impress, and with Palace firmly involved in the UEFA Europa Conference League Quarter Finals, as well as being just 7 points away from the European places in the Premier League, there is no doubt that Wharton can continue to catch the eye of the England manager.
What we have seen with Tuchel is that he likes to know who his starters are and has consistently turned to similar lineups during his tenure as Three Lions boss, especially in competitive fixtures. These friendlies offer him a chance to experiment with new names and set-ups, and it would have undoubtedly favoured Wharton to be available for selection on Tuesday night.
Alas, Wharton misses the opportunity to face up against his midfield partner Daichi Kamada, and too misses another opportunity to impress.
