Cole Palmer and Declan Rice have both been listed among five players who have pulled out of the England national team camp ahead of the upcoming Nations League fixtures. Alongside them, young full‑back Tino Livramento and Manchester United’s promising duo Kobbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford have also withdrawn, prompting manager Gareth Southgate to call up Morgan Gibbs‑White and James Garner as their replacements.
Palmer’s situation is particularly noteworthy. The Chelsea forward, who missed Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad earlier this summer, was recalled for the Three Lions’ matches against Spain, the Czech Republic and Croatia.
He went on to complete the full ninety minutes in Chelsea’s 2‑1 loss to Brentford, showing that he is back in the picture at the international level. After unveiling the roster for the September and October internationals, Tuchel explained the standards that both Gibbs‑White and Palmer must meet to secure regular places in the side. "We can see the form Morgan is in and he ended the season very strongly and was the key player for Forest to avoid relegation.
We can see him stepping up now," Tuchel said, highlighting the midfielder’s late‑season surge. "It’s one thing to be nominated and get back into the squad, but it’s another to perform. Cole needs to deliver the kind of numbers and displays that justify his shirt and the nomination," the England boss added, underscoring the pressure on Palmer to prove his worth. Palmer, who endured a difficult injury‑laden campaign last season, told Sky Sports that he feels fully fit as the new season gets under way.
"Physically I feel good, probably the best I’ve felt in ages, but I think I can get fitter with games and more minutes," he explained. He reflected on his injury history, noting that prior to a recent groin problem he had rarely missed training or matches. "Before my groin injury I’d never really been injured – well, rarely – so I would just come back and play when I probably shouldn’t have," he admitted. He also described the dilemma he faced ahead of the World Cup.
"Obviously the World Cup was coming up, so I was in a bit of a dilemma thinking, ‘if I don’t play I’m not going to go. But if I play then I can’t play properly.’ It was a sticky situation. I didn’t really know how to deal with it, and I was seeing different doctors with different ideas about why I was injured," Palmer said.
Since his return, he has been diligent about injury prevention, stating, "Since I’ve come back I’ve been working every day to stop it happening again. I just want to stay injury‑free, and if I’m on the pitch then I know what I can do." Rice’s story mirrors Palmer’s in many ways.
The Arsenal midfielder was a central figure for England during the World Cup, playing through a lingering injury throughout the tournament. This season he has started each of Arsenal’s first five Premier League matches, showing that his fitness level remains high. However, his inclusion in the current squad was called into question when reports emerged that both Mainoo and Rashford were doubtful due to recent knocks. Rashford, who suffered a hip injury that has been monitored since the World Cup, was visibly limping when he was substituted during United’s 1‑1 draw with Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Mainoo, on the other hand, played 80 minutes in the same game before being taken off for tactical reasons, according to United’s coach Michael Carrick. Both youngsters were part of the World Cup squad but did not see any minutes on the tournament’s biggest stage – a situation Tuchel vowed to rectify during this international break. "I expect him to be on the pitch and it’s my duty to get him on the pitch. That was totally on me.
He didn’t put a foot wrong during the World Cup," Tuchel said of Mainoo. "He was class in behaviour on the training pitch.
There was big competition; we played Reece James in central midfield also. Elliot Anderson is amazing for us, Declan Rice is a very unique player.
We trusted them more than we trusted Kobbie. It was difficult for him. It was on me.
He got injured before the France game so we couldn’t even give him minutes there, which hurt me. Maybe he was more hurt than me but it was my responsibility and it’s my responsibility to reward him for that." Sky Sports News chief correspondent Kaveh Solhekol weighed in on the broader picture, noting that while Rice’s injury isn’t deemed serious, it does require careful management. "It doesn’t make sense from Chelsea’s perspective for him to go away on international duty for three weeks," Solhekol said, referring to Palmer’s situation. He added that Palmer has endured a series of setbacks, especially a chronic groin problem that sidelined him for extended periods last season.
"He wasn’t really at his best. He has been at his best this season though.
He has started every game. He started when they lost away at Brentford," Solhekol observed. Solhekol also highlighted the narrative surrounding Tuchel’s selection choices.
"Some cynics may be asking if there is more to this than meets the eye. Tuchel controversially left him out of his World Cup squad in the summer so he really had a point to prove.
Straight away he lets him down by not being able to make the squad. Tuchel is someone who places great store by these camps away from your club for a long time. Some of the reasons that he picked the players he did in the summer was because they impressed him in the camps last autumn.
It is a little bit of a black mark against Palmer’s name but it should be kept in proportion because the next tournament is still two years away," Solhekol concluded. In summary, England’s squad for the upcoming Nations League matches has undergone significant changes due to injuries and withdrawals.
While Palmer and Rice remain high‑profile absentees, the inclusion of Gibbs‑White and Garner offers fresh options for Tuchel. The manager’s emphasis on performance, fitness, and rewarding players who have shown dedication in training underscores his approach to building a resilient and competitive England side as they look ahead to future international tournaments.