Lee Carsley reveals incoming England boss Thomas Tuchel hasn’t said a word to him and knew NOTHING about appointment

LEE CARSLEY is yet to speak to new England manager Thomas Tuchel.

Interim boss Carsley named his squad for next week’s Nations League games against Greece and the Republic of Ireland.

Yet bizarrely, Tuchel — who was named as Three Lions boss last month and will take over on January 1 — has NOT had a conversation with the man he will replace.

Carsley said: “I sent a text  to him which was ‘congratulations’ and he said ‘good luck for the window and look forward to meeting up’.

“He is fully respectful that I am in charge at  the moment.

“That is the priority. I do not feel hard done by or shunned.

“If anything I look forward to hopefully creating a situation where we can hand over a healthy squad of players to the new coach.”

Carsley stressed Tuchel’s impressive CV, having won the Champions League with Chelsea and league titles with Paris Saint-Germain, is a huge benefit.

He said: “A track record of winning was definitely in the job description.

“The fact we have got that person really helps because there is going to be a stage during the next 18 months where that experience is going to be crucial, in those big moments in the big games.

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“I am not saying we did not have that in the past but having that in the locker, that he has done that, definitely helps.”

England travel to Greece on Thursday and the Three Lions are at home to the Republic of Ireland three days later.

Carsley has handed first call-ups to Southampton defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Newcastle full-back Lewis Hall.

He will be hoping the team repairs the damage from last month’s shock 2-1 home defeat by the Greeks when England started without a recognised striker.

Asked whether he picked this squad with Tuchel in mind, Carsley answered: “No. I am quite selfish in that respect. I picked the squad which I think can beat Greece and the Republic of Ireland. I definitely want to attack.

“It was a really tough night after Greece. I am not sure what I would have changed. I know you are saying ‘just play a centre-forward’ but I wanted to try something different.

“I have tried to pick players I think have a future in terms of longevity as the World Cup is 18 months away and the more players we have to pick from, who have been in the camp and played in a pressurised game, is a big thing.”

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk