Rio Ngumoha in frame to start for England against Croatia at Wembley

LiverpoolLiverpoolPremier League · England winger Rio Ngumoha has forced his way into Thomas Tuchel's England plans and has a chance of starting against Croatia at Wembley on Thursday.

The 18-year-old narrowly missed the cut for England's World Cup squad last summer, but he impressed during the pre-tournament camp in Florida. An excellent start to the season has pushed him back into senior contention at the right moment, with two Nations League fixtures to come this week.

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Bukayo Saka's injury opens a route into the XI

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England go into the Croatia game with Bukayo SakaBukayo SakaArsenal · England · Forward reported to be injured, and with several more experienced players left out of the squad for this window. That leaves more room than usual in the wide positions, and Ngumoha is regarded as dangerous on either flank.

Form alone rarely settles an England selection, but it has at least turned this one into a genuine decision. Tuchel must weigh Ngumoha's current level against the experience he would be leaving out of the side.

Croatia at Wembley, then Spain in Madrid

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Croatia visit Wembley on Thursday. England then travel to MadridReal MadridLaLiga · Spain to face Spain on Sunday, where a meeting with Lamine YamalLamine YamalBarcelona · Spain · Forward would give Ngumoha the kind of direct benchmark a young winger rarely gets so early.

Ngumoha is understood to be looking forward to that test. Whether he gets it depends on Thursday first, and on how Tuchel chooses to balance youth and experience across the two fixtures.

The Ballon d'Or ambition

Ngumoha has set out his ambition to win the Ballon d'Or, saying he believes he can become the best player in the world. The target is his own; neither Liverpool nor England have set it for him.

What matters this week is narrower than that. A teenager who was outside the World Cup squad in the summer now has a route to minutes in a competitive England shirt, and the coming days will show how quickly Tuchel wants to use it.

What is not yet known

Tuchel has not named his starting XI for either match, so Ngumoha's involvement is a possibility rather than a decision. The severity of Saka's injury has not been disclosed, and England have not set out which more experienced players were left out or why.

It is also unsettled whether Ngumoha is being viewed as short-term cover for this window or as part of Tuchel's longer-term attacking plans. Nothing said publicly so far answers that, and his use across the two games will be the first real indication.