The Mirror's chief football writer John Cross discusses Dominic Solanke and Conor Gallagher as he rates England's World Cup 2026 squad hopefuls
Dominic Solanke's latest Tottenham Hotspur performances are bound to have left England manager Thomas Tuchel "impressed," with a decision looming over strikers in the Three Lions' World Cup squad this summer.
Spurs' club-record signing started his second season with the club on the back foot as he required five months to recover from ankle surgery. However, he returned last month with a bang and has helped Thomas Frank's side secure some important results.
Goals in the Champions League against Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt ensured Spurs' automatic passage to the round of 16, rather than having to navigate a play-off.
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Then last weekend, Solanke netted twice - one of them a sublime scorpion kick - to pull his side back from two goals down and draw 2-2 with Manchester City. Watching from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium's directors was England boss Tuchel.
And as part of a new weekly series of 'England Player Ratings' counting down to this summer's World Cup, The Mirror's chief football writer John Cross has given the Spurs striker a 6/10 rating of making the Three Lions' squad this summer - and that rating has plenty of opportunity to grow.
"I cannot believe that Thomas Tuchel would have left without being so impressed w ith a player that we would not have been talking about had he not put in incredible performances of late.
"Dom Solanke, if we are talking about our fast risers, it has to be him. He was phenomenal. Not o nly did he score two goals, including a remarkable scorpion kick straight out of the Olivier Giroud playbook, I thought his all-around play was fantastic.
"He will have given Tuchel some real food for thought."
His selection for the World Cup is going to depend on how many strikers England take, and the profile they are looking for.
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Cross added: "If you are taking two or three strikers, Harry Kane is absolutely a shoo-in, but do you go for someone who backs up Kane and is as close to Kane as possible, or do you go someone who's a complete contrast?
"Ollie Watkins will be the favourite but if you go for another centre forward, then I think Dom Solanke will suddenly be in Thomas Tuchel's thoughts. I thought he was that good. He was terrific."
Gallagher an 'outside shot' at present
Another Spurs star hopeful of fighting his way into contention for England is Conor Gallagher. The midfielder signed a long-term contract in north London as he arrived from Atletico Madrid during the January transfer window.
"The more you write him off, the more he'll prove you wrong," said Cross, who gives Gallagher a 5/10 England squad rating and added: "He's an outside shot at the moment.
"He thought, 'okay, I'm probably not starting enough games and making enough of an impression. So I'm going do something about this'.
"That's why he was open to moving back to the Premier League, he obviously chose Spurs above Villa, and he's done that with the World Cup in mind.
"He's very passionate about playing for England. He's been in many squads before. The issue with Gallagher is does he bring enough quality on the ball to the table?
"He's given himself a chance with his move to Spurs. I think he's an outsider, and i f you're looking for a slight contrast in what other midfielders can do in a bigger squad, then Gallagher has got a chance."