The Harry Kane dilemma Thomas Tuchel faces ahead of the World Cup

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And that, in turn, was an indication that Tuchel’s appointment alone was not a quick fix to the problem of England looking less than the sum of their considerable parts and struggling to accommodate the various creators who all want to gravitate towards the middle. Cole Palmer started against Andorra. So far, however, one of only four Englishmen to score in the final of a major international tournament has had a greater impact for his country as a substitute than a starter. Right now, too, he isn’t really Tuchel’s idea of a winger.

“If we want to have players in, and we don’t have enough No 10 positions, we could have Cole play on the wing and play then more inside,” he said. “But at the moment, we decide to have the wingers high and aggressive and wide, where they have their biggest strength. Everything is a big learning.”

If one lesson is that England rarely have the Palmer of Chelsea or the Phil Foden of Manchester City, Tuchel had a point when he argued their clubs haven’t seen that much of late either. Palmer delivered a star turn in the Conference League final but only has one goal in his last 23 games.

Tuchel nevertheless accepts the broader issue. “That’s the question that needs to be answered,” he said. “It is a fair question. I think that even Cole struggled lately at Chelsea to have an impact. Phil, unfortunately, struggled over many months now to have the impact that he can have.”

Part of the puzzle for Tuchel involves personnel. Bukayo Saka is set to feature for the first time in his reign against Senegal – another reason not to pick Palmer off the right – and there is a quest for chemistry.

“It’s on us, it’s on me to find the right balance, to find the right connections, like who loves to play with each other, who has a genuine connection, who takes care of each other,” he reflected. “We need to improve in connections, in support, in interactions in the group. I feel we are too isolated on the pitch. We have not clicked yet. I don’t see it has clicked between the players.”

That could be part tactical, part mental. “We can do better,” Tuchel added. “We can do more fluid. We can be more exciting, which since a longer time I feel has been a bit of a problem. I feel a bit stuck.”

Gareth Southgate could probably empathise. It is not as simple, however, as liberating footballers with one word. “It’s difficult to prescribe freedom, to play with freedom and suddenly everyone plays with freedom,” Tuchel said.

The England shirt can hang heavy on players. “Like a heavy shirt?” mused Tuchel. “Do we expect too much? Don’t we feel the freedom? Do we not feel the same freedom to express ourselves that we feel like in the clubs? Does Phil feel free in his club? Is he really free in his club to express himself? Not since many months. He struggles also there.”

Free or not, Foden isn’t in the squad to face Senegal. But many another flair player is and so far Tuchel’s reign has brought six goals: one from an attacking midfielder, in Eberechi Eze, but two from defenders and three from Kane. A reliance on the captain is nothing new. He has 72 international goals, the rest of the squad 40 between them. It may not be Tuchel’s problem but his successor might hope Kane shows the staying power of Ronaldo.

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