England manager Thomas Tuchel keeping tabs on Burnley & Sunderland duo | OneFootball

England boss Thomas Tuchel has one eye on the second tier after sending his assistant coach to watch promotion six-pointer.

England manager Thomas Tuchel is seemingly open to the idea of including EFL talents in his maiden squad, with James Trafford and Jobe Bellingham on his radar.

According to a report from Alan Nixon, the former Chelsea boss reportedly sent his right-hand man Anthony Barry, to Turf Moor last Friday in order to watch an all-important clash between Burnley and Sunderland.

It is understood that, while 13 Englishmen featured that evening, including the prodigious Chris Rigg, the onus of Barry's attendance was to watch both Bellingham and Trafford, with a view to include them in the German's squad for their opening World Cup qualifiers in March.

While 19-year-old Bellingham put in a typically admirable performance, it would be the Clarets keeper who impressed most, saving two penalties late on in a fixture that finished 0-0.

Jobe Bellingham and James Trafford eyed up by England manager Thomas Tuchel

The Sunderland midfielder with familial weight on his shoulders has been phenomenal this campaign, and while still yet to play first team football, looks destined to soon join his older brother in becoming a household name within the world game.

The former Birmingham man has recently been linked with moves to German giants Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen, though will likely aim to achieve promotion with the Black Cats first.

If the all-action Mackem midfielder is to receive a first team callup before the season is through, he could become the first outfield player to represent England in a competitive fixture whilst playing in the Championship since David Nugent in 2007.

The apparent interest from Tuchel may prove favourable reading for Sunderland supporters, as recognition on the international stage could be the main driving force to Bellingham's premature exit from the club.

James Trafford picked right time to deliver MOTM performance

Without knowing the important eyes of England's number two were on him, James Trafford produced arguably the most important performance of his career, single-handedly rescuing a point after saving two Wilson Isidor penalties.

Nowhere is the ability to rescue a team from the spot more important than in the international game, so this was arguably the perfect showcase of his potential worth ahead of a new era at Wembley.

His penalty heroics are already well-documented in the famous white strip, having saved an injury time penalty in the final of the under-21's European Championships in 2023, as Lee Carsley's side won the competition having not conceded a single goal.

Trafford has twice been called up to the England squad, including making the 33-man shortlist for Euro 2024. However, the Cumbrian keeper is yet to make his first official appearance.

While this reported interest could merely be prior planning for further years to come, if either of the promotion-chasing pair are to play any part in the Wembley double-header versus Albania and Latvia in two months time, it would prove a considerable statement for not just the individual talents, but the improvement in quality in the EFL as a whole.