Tirana, Albania - A potential debut could be on the cards for an England defender in their upcoming World Cup qualifier against Albania, following an injury to Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa. Konsa, who has featured in England's last four games, was unable to travel to Tirana after reporting tightness in his calf.
The news comes as another blow to England's defensive options, with Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi already sidelined with a bruised ankle. These absences could pave the way for Jarell Quansah to make his senior debut, or for Trevoh Chalobah to earn his second cap for the Three Lions.
England manager Thomas Tuchel acknowledged the setback but remained confident in his squad's depth. "Everyone was in training except for Ezri Konsa, who felt a tightness in the calf and stayed in London for further assessment," Tuchel stated. He added, "Now Ezri is out, I think we just have to find a solution. It is what it is. We have strong enough players for another good performance".
Tuchel emphasized that the team's established structure would help compensate for the missing players. "I think the structure is there over the last three camps to make it easier to compensate. The players are very aware of what we want," he explained.
England has already secured their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, boasting a perfect record in qualifying with seven wins and clean sheets. They beat Albania 2-0 in the reverse fixture. Despite the injuries, Tuchel is focused on maintaining momentum and fine-tuning the team.
Tuchel said that he is yet to decide who will start. "We haven't decided yet, and we will have some discussions later and take decisions [on Sunday] morning," Tuchel stated.
Several players are vying for a place in the starting XI, including Trevoh Chalobah, who made his senior debut under Tuchel in June. Other potential changes could see Djed Spence replace Reece James at right-back, and Jude Bellingham potentially returning to the starting lineup.
England faces Albania in Tirana on Sunday, November 16, 2025, at 5 pm GMT. Albania has already secured second place in Group K.
