Thomas Tuchel says Ngoyo has fully recovered and completed England’s entire training session ahead of their away match against Croatia on 4 October, Beijing time.
The England head coach was speaking at a press conference before the game, the second part of his media duties.
Ngoyo is regarded as a key player by Tuchel, who said his return to full training had provided “great hope” for the match. Left-back O’Reilly has left the England training camp, while there is competition for the position on the right. Guehi is in good form and is likely to start, although Tuchel said he would not reveal his line-up in advance.
Tuchel praised the team’s performance in their previous match against the Czech Republic, despite the starting XI having never played together before. England also made defensive changes from the side that faced Spain.
He said the players had shown a strong ability to adapt and respond to tactical changes, adding that they would need to find new solutions against Croatia.
During the World Cup, England relied heavily on Kane and Bellingham, but Tuchel believes Gordon is now developing into another player capable of influencing important matches. Quansah has also been called up and impressed.
“Jude was decisive for us in the World Cup, and Harry was too,” Tuchel said. “There is no reason to think they cannot continue to contribute in the future, and they have played key roles in the last two games.”
The manager said playing abroad could have an influence, but rejected the idea that players from the Premier League could not become central figures for England. He pointed to several options within the squad, including the youngest player, Lio, who he believes has the potential to make a decisive impact if he continues to prove himself.
Morgan Rogers is training well, while Gibbs-White has scored frequently in training. Eze, meanwhile, is beginning to find his best form, giving Tuchel a wide range of attacking choices.
The manager also reflected on his previous visit to Croatia, when his Chelsea side lost to Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League. Tuchel said Chelsea had been favourites but suffered defeat in what became his final competitive match as the club’s manager.
He has more positive memories of Croatia through his previous work with Kovacic, while he has also faced Modric on numerous occasions.
Tuchel described Modric as a Croatian national hero, a world football legend and a deserved Ballon d’Or winner at the height of his Real Madrid career. He praised the midfielder’s talent, character and example on the pitch.
On Kovacic, Tuchel said they retained a special bond after working together at Chelsea and winning the Champions League. He described him as kind, humble and gentle away from the pitch, but highly competitive and exceptionally talented during matches.
“It was a great pleasure to work with him,” Tuchel said. “Every time I see him, I want to give him a hug; our relationship is very close.”
