Newcastle United star dropped by England and Anthony Gordon injury confirmed

He was an unused substitute on Friday against Albania as the Three Lions coasted to a 2-0 win in Thomas Tuchel’s first game. The German managed Livramento at Chelsea when he made a permanent switch to Southampton in 2021.

Livramento has just one England cap to his name which came in a 5-0 win over the Republic of Ireland last year. With 18 months on his England contract, Tuchel preferred the trusted old guard in his first squad rather than adopting a prudent approach.

Kyle Walker - who turns 35 in May - was named as right-back despite a poor campaign at club level. There were also returns for Jordan Henderson and Marcus Rashford - previously axed by Sir Gareth Southgate.

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Livramento has surprisingly been chopped from England’s matchday squad for tonight’s clash with Latvia. Aaron Ramsdale has also been axed, while Morgan Gibbs-White and Jarell Quansah return.

Tuchel was asked about his decision at yesterday’s pre-match press conference. He told reporters: "We have to get the process right to find the best group. If that means we leave very good and talented players out of the squad this can happen.

“In the next 16 months it is important we find the right team and not the most talented 26 players. We need to get the team right. We need to get the team spirit right because it's one thing to play qualifiers, it's another thing to play tournament football."

Tuchel also revealed the extent of Anthony Gordon’s hip injury that forced him to withdraw from the squad over the weekend. He added: “It’s just a matter of pain. There’s a big bruise around the hip region and he’s unable to walk properly.

“He left camp. He has a huge bruise around the hip region and it was so painful he couldn’t even walk properly. He needs some time to heal and to get better. That’s why he left camp. It’s a shame because he had a good chance to start, and I’m sad that he is now out.

“He was so happy to play and get some minutes for us. He had a red card (against Brighton), then he got sick. He came a bit late into camp, gets his minutes and gets straightaway injured. I’m sad for him but we cannot change it, and I think he still needs a couple of days rest. So he’s with his family now to get the rest and we find other solutions.”

Thomas Tuchel never wanted to sell Tino Livramento at Chelsea

Livramento was named Chelsea’s Academy Player of the Year just weeks before sealing a move to Southampton. He never made a senior appearance as he jumped ship to pursue first-team football.

“Yes of course he was highly rated,” Tuchel said at the time. “We did everything to keep him here, to show him his future and his possibilities to compete for a position in our team.

“He decided to go, that was his decision and you sometimes have to accept. There are not hard feelings because we can show him possibilities and then it is on the player. He was of course competing with Reece James and Cesar Azpilicueta on the right wing-back position.

“I think it was an ideal position to fight because the group wasn’t too big. There was a big chance for him to make it all the way. He decided to go and it’s fair enough, we wish him all the best. We saw the potential, he decided to go another way and fight for a place at Southampton.”

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