Palmer withdraws from England squad with injury

Cole Palmer has withdrawn from England’s squad for its Nations League matches against Spain, the Czech Republic and Croatia, with coach Thomas Tuchel saying Chelsea told the national team the forward was playing through discomfort and pain. Tuchel described the absence as another missed opportunity for Palmer to show his ability in camp, while rejecting suggestions that England was managing his workload. Palmer was called up after recording six goal involvements in his first seven games of the season for Chelsea. His withdrawal marks the second time he has left an England squad after being called up because of a fitness issue since Tuchel took charge in 2025, according to the reports. The sources do not provide a medical assessment detailing the nature or severity of his current problem. Speaking ahead of England’s match against Spain, Tuchel said he did not blame Palmer for the absence but considered it a setback. He said a player must be present in camp to make an impression on the coach and the team, and that Palmer had missed too many opportunities through injuries.