Crystal Palace boss sends 'desperate' England plea in potential boost for Spurs and Sunderland stars

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has urged Thomas Tuchel to take caution when selecting his England side for upcoming internationals, especially with Eagles midfielder Adam Wharton as he works his way back from injury.

The Crystal Palace boss has clearly been desperate to avoid any setbacks with the former Blackburn Rovers man, who missed 14 straight Premier League games between November and January following groin surgery. Glasner had already ranted about the ‘frustration’ for the player around that injury when asked about upcoming England fixtures last week and doubled down on that following the 4-1 win over Aston Villa.

Wharton played 78 minutes in that match, the most he has managed for Crystal Palace since the end of October. Speaking after the match, Glasner once again urged for caution ahead of the upcoming England matches.

Oliver Glasner wants England caution with Adam Wharton

He said: “He was a little bit rusty in the beginning but then you could see his quality as he adjusted so quickly to the pace of the Premier League again. He played excellent and we’re so pleased to have him back.

“Everybody knows what Adam can do but we have to be patient. Since the final of the Euros he’s struggled, he’ll get more minutes.

“I think for Adam, he will get many games for the Three Lions in his career, I don’t know if this will be the right moment in March after a long injury. Give him time, he’s a young boy with a great talent. But at the end of the day it will be Thomas Tuchel’s decision.”

England face Albania and Latvia in World Cup Qualifiers next month. Wharton was part of the Three Lions squad at Euro 2024 but did not play any minutes in that competition. His only England cap came against Bosnia in a friendly last June.

Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland midfielders linked with England call-ups

Should Tuchel heed Glasner’s words of caution, that could work in favour of Tottenham Hotspur man Archie Gray and Sunderland youngster Jobe Bellingham. Both have been linked with a call-up ahead of next month’s matches, having never played for England before.

Gray has featured primarily as a defender for an injury-riddled Spurs this season, but impressed in midfield for Leeds United last season. Sky Sports has reported that Gray is being considered by Tuchel ahead of the upcoming qualifiers.

Meanwhile, Sunderland man Jobe Bellingham is a wildcard option who could fill the place of Crystal Palace man Wharton. The Black Cats star is a supposed transfer target for Arsenal and Manchester United.

According to a report from Alan Nixon in January, Tuchel sent assistant Anthony Barry to Turf Moor watch the second tier clash between Burnley and Sunderland with Bellingham and in his thinking for his England squad.

In other news, Millwall head coach Alex Neil was in the stands at Selhurst Park on Tuesday night to watch as Crystal Palace beat Aston Villa.