Tony Cascarino has dealt Adam Wharton a brutal reality check, warning the Crystal Palace star faces a desperate fight to make England’s World Cup squad after limping out of the Three Lions camp.
The 22 year old played the second half of England’s 1-1 draw with Uruguay, replacing Jordan Henderson. Decent shift. Nothing more. But that was his lot for this international break after he was one of eight players sent packing due to injury concerns.
Now the clock is ticking. Wharton needs to get fit, tear it up for Palace in the run in, and somehow convince Thomas Tuchel he’s worth a seat on the plane to the World Cup this June.
Cascarino isn’t holding his breath.
Smoke on the Wharter
“I don’t think Adam will play,” the former Ireland striker said, blunt as a rusty shovel. “I don’t think he’s in the starting line up. I think he’ll do well to even make the squad.”
Harsh? Maybe. But Cas did offer a crumb of comfort.
“He’d done alright when he came on the other night. Handled it really well. But I’m not too sure how close he is to the full squad.”
Tuchel has mostly stuck with a 4-2-3-1 since taking the England job. And in that system, the midfield pecking order looks grim for Wharton.
Declan Rice is nailed on. Write his name in permanent marker. Elliot Anderson has started six of the last seven England games, he’s basically Tuchel’s new best mate. And Wharton? He plays the same role. Same skill set. Same position. That means he’s fighting for scraps.
Garner receives praise
If that wasn’t bad enough, Tuchel has been waxing lyrical about James Garner. The Everton man made his debut against Uruguay and promptly got called the manager’s “mini (Federico) Valverde.”
High praise indeed.
“He’s getting there,” Tuchel said. “He played very, very good. Natural confidence. Very physical. Won a lot of balls.”
Garner has even filled in at right back for the Toffees this term. Versatile. Reliable. Everything Tuchel loves.
Then there’s Jude Bellingham. Injured on and off this season but still a shoo in. Jordan Henderson 35 years old, didn’t play a single England game in 2024, yet Tuchel brought him straight back. Experience talks.
Wharton’s problem is clear. He’s not better than Rice. He’s not ahead of Anderson. He offers nothing Bellingham can’t do with one leg tied behind his back. And now Garner has leapfrogged him in the manager’s affections.
So where does that leave the Palace man? Nowhere good.
He needs a miracle. A barnstorming end to the season. Goals. Assists. Man of the match displays. And even then, it might not be enough.
England host Japan on Tuesday. Wharton won’t be there. But the others Garner, Anderson, Henderson, will. And they’ll all be trying to book their spot on that plane.
Wharton can only watch. And wait. And pray.
