A new era starts for England in March under Thomas Tuchel – and a former Three Lions right back has backed Brighton duo Lewis Dunk and Danny Welbeck to be part of it.
Speaking to BetVictor Casino, Glen Johnson said both players can benefit from Tuchel coming in with a fresh approach and the Albion being in contention for European football.
Welbeck was an England regular under Sir Gareth Southgate until the worst of his injury problems hit in the 2018-19 season.
Dat Guy made his most recent international appearance in a friendly against Switzerland at the King Power Stadium in September 2018.
A fine day out for anyone who went to the game following an afternoon with four winners at Leicester Racecourse and one of the finest curries they have ever eaten.
Dunk meanwhile should have far more international caps than he currently owns. He was one of the best centre backs in the Premier League between 2019 and 2023, defensively and for his ability on the ball.
Yet even when captaining the Albion to sixth place and the semi finals of the FA Cup under Roberto De Zerbi, Southgate refused to pick Dunk.
The only possible conclusion was that Dunk had accidentally run over Southgate’s cat during two rare call ups to the England squad in October and November 2018.
Southgate eventually relented and called up Dunk through 2023-24, culminating in him going to Euro 2024. The timing was bizarre, Dunk becoming a squad regular at a time when he was arguably having his poorest Brighton season in four years.
Dunk was then omitted by Lee Carsley during the Under 21s head coach’s interim spell in charge. This was nowhere near as controversial as his constant overlooking under Southgate.
The powers of the Brighton skipper have looked at times this season to be further on the wane. So much so there was even a debate over whether he should be an automatic starter for the Albion anymore.
That was after Igor Julio did a fine job alongside Jan Paul van Hecke when Dunk was side lined for five weeks with a calf problem.
Not that Johnson has seen many issues with how Dunk has played in 2024-25. And with Southgate gone and Tuchel in charge, Johnson believes the clean slate offered to all England players can see Dunk and Welbeck return to international football.
“Danny Welbeck and Lewis Dunk are both players who are having great seasons and they have chances of getting into that England squad,” said Johnson.
“Welbeck has players in front of him in his position and he would have to kick on a bit. But with a new manager in Thomas Tuchel, who might have a different view on things, anything’s possible. He just needs to keep putting in good performances and he will throw his hat into the ring.”
“Dunk would have a better chance at making the England squad than Welbeck. The centre back position is a place where we have struggled in the last few years. It’s a lot more open.”
“He’s another who would have to kick on a bit. But it only takes a good run of form and he could find himself back in and around the England squad.”
“Brighton have impressed me this season, they’re doing well. They’ve got some good players that are going under the radar. They look like a unit and they’re fighting for one another. It shows with the results they’re getting on the pitch.”
Whilst some Albion supporters might contest Johnson’s assertion that Dunk is having a great season, the case of an England recall for Welbeck was strong going into the November international break.
Dat Guy scored six goals in the first nine Premier League games of the season for Brighton. For context, Welbeck’s best campaign of the past 11 years came when netting seven in the entirety of 2013-14. He was one short of equalling that before even Halloween.
But then injury struck at the end of November, ruling Welbeck out for seven matches. The Albion failed to win any of them, highlighting just how important Dat Guy is to Brighton.
Welbeck’s first start in two months saw the Albion win 3-1 at Old Trafford. Dunk also returned to the starting XI against Manchester United after another groin problem which saw him miss a couple of games.
England play their first matches under Tuchel in home World Cup Qualifiers against Albania and Latvia at the end of March.
Dunk and Welbeck have two months to stay fit, help push the Albion closer to European qualification and suitably impress the new Three Lions head coach.
We will then see if Johnson’s prediction comes true. Just don’t run over Tuchel’s cat.
