Cole Palmer is set to withdraw from England's national team due to a muscular injury, with Chelsea preferring to manage his workload during the upcoming international break. This decision follows Thomas Tuchel’s recent warning that Palmer needs to "perform" and prove himself after not being selected for the World Cup. Chelsea captain Reece James was also notably left out of the England squad, while Joao Pedro and Moises Caicedo will miss their respective national team duties due to injuries as well.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Cole Palmer, a 24-year-old forward from Chelsea, withdrew from England's Nations League squad due to a muscular injury, despite being recalled by manager Thomas Tuchel after missing out on the World Cup. Palmer had been in fine form this season, starting six of Chelsea’s seven games and scoring four goals with two assists. However, Tuchel stated that Palmer was playing through discomfort and pain, which prevented him from competing at his best level.
Palmer's absence is a significant loss for England ahead of crucial matches against Spain, Czechia (home and away), and Croatia scheduled between September 26 and October 6. Tuchel emphasized that Palmer’s frequent withdrawals due to injuries have hindered his chances with the national team, stating, "He misses too many camps with injuries."
In addition to Palmer, other players such as Marcus Rashford, Declan Rice, Kobbie Mainoo, and Tino Livramento also withdrew from the squad for unspecified injury reasons. They were replaced by Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White and Everton midfielder James Garner. The withdrawal came as a surprise given Palmer’s recent strong performances under Tuchel, who acknowledged that it is another missed opportunity for Palmer to prove himself at the international level.
Written for “Cole Palmer Withdrawal From England S…” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 7 other(s) covering the same event.
Cole Palmer is set to withdraw from England duty with Chelsea keen to manage their playmaker over the three-week international break.
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Chelsea → set → break
Blues sources have told Daily Mail Sport that the 24-year-old has a muscular injury which they want to oversee.
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they → tell → which
There has been no official announcement from England, whose players are due to report to St George’s Park on Monday afternoon.
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players → report → afternoon
They are due to face 2026 World Cup winners Spain first, before two games against Czechia and another versus Croatia.
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They → face → Croatia
Thomas Tuchel is scheduled to speak this Friday, when he will be able to offer his opinion on losing Palmer.
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he → schedule → Palmer
Tuchel did not take Palmer to the World Cup after his last subpar season with Chelsea, and, speaking at Wembley Stadium after announcing his squad for this break, said the player should have ‘a point to prove’.
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player → take → point
Palmer has started every Premier League game under Xabi Alonso this term.
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Palmer → start → Alonso
After managing 83 minutes in their opening win away at Fulham, he has completed four full 90s since.
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he → manage → 90s
That included in their Friday night trip to Brentford, who beat Chelsea 3-0.
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who → include → Chelsea
He has been in fine form overall, scoring two goals and assisting twice in those league games.
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He → score → games
Cole Palmer has pulled out of the England squad with a small injury and to manage his work load after an injury-hit season last campaign
Palmer is not the only Chelsea representative who will not be going away with their country over this break.
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who → pull → break
Joao Pedro has likewise withdrawn from playing for Brazil with an injury cited, while Moises Caicedo has been left out of the Ecuador squad.
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Caicedo → withdraw → squad
Chelsea captain Reece James, a favourite of Tuchel's was not named by England, either.
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James → name → England
Despite sources describing Palmer as having a muscular issue, him pulling out of England duty is bound to spark a debate surrounding club versus country.
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pulling → describe → country
The news of his impending withdrawal led to immediate criticism.
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news → impend → criticism
His decision comes after Tuchel had issued the 24-year-old with a stern warning upon recalling him to the squad last week.
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Tuchel → come → squad
Tuchel said: 'It is one thing to be nominated, like with Cole, and getting your ticket back in the squad but it's another thing to perform for England.
'
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it → say → England
Cole needs to step up when he comes and he needs to show these kind of numbers to get his place, keep his shirt and justify the nomination.'
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he → need → nomination
He added: 'So now it is a new competition.
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it → add → ?
Some players, some positions, have more injuries.
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players → have → injuries
Some have less injuries.
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Some → have → injuries
Cole has his starts that he always had but he has his numbers back - he has his assists back, he has decisive goals back - so that is why he is in the squad.
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he → have → squad
I think he has a point to prove, and the same goes for Trent.
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same → think → Trent
He was never non-selectable for us, and it is his chance to show, come to camp and be the best version of himself.
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it → show → himself
Palmer has four goals and two assists in seven games this season after struggling during the last campaign through injury.
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Palmer → have → injury
He battled thigh and hamstring problems as he returned 11 goals and three assists in 34 games, revealing on a live stream last week: 'I had one leg for 10 months, f***ing hell, what do you want me to do?'
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me → battle → what
Manchester United duo Kobbie Mainoo (left) and Marcus Rashford (right) are also expected to withdraw through injury
It is also reported that Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo are likely to pull out of the squad due to injury.
Rashford has been battling a hip issue since the World Cup, and is likely to withdraw from England duty to have that managed.
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that → expect → duty
He started Manchester United's 1-1 draw with Fulham on Sunday, with manager Michael Carrick revealing after that he was substituted in the second-half he was dealing with an 'issue'.
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he → start → issue
Mainoo is also struggling with an issue and is expected to pull out too.
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Mainoo → struggle → issue
The 21-year-old was in the squad at the World Cup, but did not play a single minute.
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old → play → Cup
The Aporia
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