Despite captaining England for the second half of his comeback game on Friday, Harry Maguire is England's fifth-choice centre-back, according to Thomas Tuchel.

Whether that is enough for the man from Sheffield to make the World Cup squad remains to be seen with injury causing John Stones to be part of a pre-planned cull which took the squad from 35 to 27 for Tuesday's friendly against Japan.

Sheffield United academy graduate Maguire impressed in his first England game since September 2024, but manager Tuchel put him in his place afterwards.

Tuchel said Maguire was "very good on the ball, very calm, strong in the air and a weapon for set pieces.

"I haven't changed my mind but I see other players I like to start for us, I see other players ahead with a different profile,” he added.

"I see Ezri Konsa ahead, I see Marc Guehi ahead. It's no secret. I see Trevoh Chalobah on the level of mobility was slightly ahead of him.

"Also John Stones, but he had injuries so he needed to come in camp. I needed to meet him (Maguire) in person to see how he acts within the group.

"We don't need to name the squad tomorrow. I'm very happy with him (Maguire).

ENGLAND CAPTAIN: Harry Maguire skippered the Three Lions in the second half against Uruguay (Image: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

placeholder image — ENGLAND CAPTAIN: Harry Maguire skippered the Three Lions in the second half against Uruguay (Image: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

"If I have to name it tomorrow, we have a lot of injuries, he could be in."

Konsa and Guehi were amongst 11 players rested for the 1-1 draw against Uruguay, but Chalobah missed the camp with an ankle injury. Stones was withdrawn at the weekend after calf trouble.

"If you come to the World Cup you should be fit," Tuchel said of Barnsley-born Stones. "When he came, he was fit. He did not have a lot of minutes, but he has a level of game understanding.

"I'm a big fan and I know what he brings to the team in terms of personality, attitude and quality game understanding.

CALF ISSUE: John Stones (Image: Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images)

"He's obviously very upset and at the moment he gets my full support because it helps him more than putting more pressure. He was ready to play for (Manchester) City in the last weeks.

"He played in the Champions League and he played in the FA Cup, but he was not used in the league. But he played enough for me to be important for us.

"I think he's a world-class player. But he felt again, I think the calf.

"But he has a lot of credit in the bank with me. So, let's hope that he gets fit because it's most important that he finds his confidence."

Madueke came off in the first half of Friday's 1-1 draw with Uruguay after appearing to jar himself when on the receiving end of a block tackle.

"I'm worried, of course, because I think he was a difference-maker," Tuchel said of the right winger. "He started well, he was full of energy, he was ready to go.

"Against a team like Uruguay, who relies on one-against-ones, to isolate them there and to go in one-against-ones from every minute out there, the spaces open up and he could have been a key player for us, which he is. (I’m) very sad and upset and hopefully it's not a big injury."

Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Adam Wharton, Aaron Ramsdale, Fikayo Tomori and Dominic Calvert-Lewin of Leeds United are the others to drop out.