England manager Thomas Tuchel has decided not to include Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott in his matchday squad for the upcoming fixture against Serbia on Thursday. This means Scott will have to wait for his senior debut, while fellow centre-back Marc Guehi is also unavailable due to injury. Despite his absence from Crystal Palace's recent Premier League match, Guehi remains part of the squad and will be vying for a place in England's final World Cup qualifier against Albania this weekend.

Scott, 22, was a key player in the England Under-21 squad that triumphed in the European Championships over the summer. His impressive performances at club level for Bournemouth led to his selection for the qualifying double-header against Serbia and Albania. After receiving his first senior call-up, Scott expressed his excitement, referencing his namesake, the former England women's player who has transitioned into broadcasting. "They said I’ve done well getting called up and going on I’m A Celebrity at the same time!" he remarked. "Obviously, Alex Scott the female footballer has done amazing things for the country and in an England shirt. It’s amazing for her and me to have the same name. I’m not sure if there’s been many or ever, if I do get on the pitch on Thursday or Sunday, that have shared the name and both played for the country."

England has already secured their place in the 2026 World Cup after winning their first six qualifiers under Tuchel. However, the outcomes of the next two matches could influence which teams join them, as only one point separates Albania in second place from Serbia in third in their qualifying group. Guehi's participation in the Albania match remains uncertain, depending on his recovery from injury.

Tuchel also addressed the challenge of fitting star players into his starting XI. He indicated that it may not be feasible to include all three of Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, and Phil Foden in the line-up. "At the moment, if we keep the structure, they cannot play," Tuchel stated. "We don't like it, not because they don't individually deserve it, but we will always do what's best for the team, we will always do what's best for winning. We take tough decisions in any camp, and this will not change when we go to a tournament."