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Cole Palmer has withdrawn from Thomas Tuchel’s England squad with a confirmed muscle injury
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Palmer played the full 90 minutes in Chelsea’s 3-0 loss at Brentford before the issue surfaced
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Eberechi Eze, Morgan Rogers, and Jude Bellingham are among the options to fill his role
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England open their Nations League campaign against Spain at Wembley on September 26
September 21, (THEWILL) – Cole Palmer has withdrawn from Thomas Tuchel’s England squad after picking up a muscle injury, Sky Sports News has confirmed.
The Chelsea playmaker was the standout recall when Tuchel named his 27-man squad for the upcoming Nations League fixtures on Friday, September 18, marking his first involvement with the national team since being left out of England’s World Cup squad in the summer. His withdrawal comes just days later, following Chelsea’s 3-0 defeat at Brentford, in which Palmer played the full 90 minutes.
Earlier reports had characterised the decision as a precautionary, load-management call given Palmer’s recent injury history, but Sky Sports News’s breaking update confirms the issue as a muscle injury.
It continues a frustrating pattern for the 24-year-old, whose 2025-26 season was disrupted by a persistent groin problem that ultimately cost him a place in England’s World Cup squad. He had looked back to his best under new Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso this season, scoring four goals and adding two assists in his first seven appearances, form that convinced Tuchel to bring him straight back into the fold.
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England open their Nations League campaign against world champions Spain at Wembley on Saturday, September 26, before away fixtures against Czechia and Croatia.
With Palmer out, Tuchel is expected to turn to alternatives such as Eberechi Eze, Morgan Rogers, or Jude Bellingham to fill the creative role in attack.
Neither the Football Association nor Chelsea have yet issued a formal statement detailing the extent of the injury or Palmer’s expected recovery timeline.
Olumide Atiba is a sports journalist with THEWILL, known for his keen news sense and compelling storytelling. He has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, well-structured reports that resonate with readers, with a strong focus on football coverage
