Cole Palmer and Declan Rice have joined a growing list of players who have pulled out of the England camp, with five names now confirmed absent. Alongside Palmer and Rice, full‑back Tino Livramento and Manchester United’s promising youngster Kobbie Mainoo and veteran striker Marcus Rashford have also withdrawn.
Their places have been filled by the recall of Morgan Gibbs‑White and James Garner, who have been summoned as replacements for the upcoming fixtures. Palmer, who missed Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup roster earlier this summer, was given a chance to redeem himself when he featured for the full ninety minutes in Chelsea’s loss to Brentford.
His inclusion came as part of the Three Lions’ Nations League programme, which sees England face Spain, the Czech Republic and Croatia in quick succession. After unveiling the squad for the September‑October window, Tuchel made it clear what he expects from both Gibbs‑White and Palmer if they are to become regular fixtures in his plans. "We can see the form Morgan is in and he ended the season very strongly, being the key player who helped Forest avoid relegation. We see him stepping up now," Tuchel explained.
"Being named in the squad is one thing, but delivering the performances and numbers that justify the call‑up is another. Cole must produce those kinds of displays to earn his shirt and validate his selection." Palmer, who endured a string of injuries last season, told Sky Sports that he feels fully fit as the new campaign gets underway.
"Physically I feel good – probably the best I’ve felt in ages – but I know I can get fitter with more games and minutes," he said. He reflected on his injury history, noting that before a recent groin problem he had rarely been sidelined.
"I used to come back and play when I probably shouldn’t have," he admitted, highlighting the dilemma he faced ahead of the World Cup. "If I didn’t play, I’d miss out; if I played, I risked not being at my best.
It was a sticky situation, and I got mixed advice from different medical staff. Since returning, I’m working daily to prevent a recurrence. My aim is to stay injury‑free and, when I’m on the pitch, to give everything I can." Rice, a central figure for England during the World Cup despite battling injury throughout the tournament, has also opted out. He has since started each of Arsenal’s first five Premier League matches this season, showing that he is on the road to full recovery.
Meanwhile, reports from Sky Sports News indicated that both Mainoo and Rashford were listed as doubts before the squad announcement. The duo were substituted in Manchester United’s 1‑1 draw with Fulham at Craven Cottage. Rashford, still nursing a hip problem that has lingered since the World Cup, was visibly limping when taken off. Mainoo completed 80 minutes before being replaced for tactical reasons, according to Michael Carrick.
The 24‑year‑old Mainoo was part of the World Cup squad but did not see any minutes on the field, a situation Tuchel vowed would not be repeated 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.
He praised Mainoo’s behaviour in training, noting the intense competition for midfield places, with Reece James, Elliot Anderson and Declan Rice all vying for spots. "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 give him minutes there, which hurt me. Maybe he was more hurt than me but it was my responsibility to reward him for that." Sky Sports News chief correspondent Kaveh Solhekol weighed in, describing Rice’s situation as not serious but requiring careful management.
He added, "It doesn’t make sense from Chelsea’s perspective for Palmer to go away on international duty for three weeks if he’s not fully fit. Everyone knows Palmer has had a lot of injury problems, especially last season.
He suffered a lingering groin issue that kept him out for long spells and he wasn’t at his best." Solhekol continued, "He’s been at his best this season, starting every game, even the one they lost away at Brentford. Some cynics might wonder if there’s more to his withdrawal than meets the eye. Tuchel controversially left him out of the World Cup squad, so Palmer had a point to prove.
The manager’s decision to exclude him initially was a blow, but now he must prove his worth. Tuchel values these long‑term camps away from clubs, and many of his summer selections were based on performances in the autumn camps. While Palmer’s omission is a blemish, it should be kept in perspective – the next major tournament is still two years away." In summary, England’s squad for the upcoming Nations League fixtures has undergone notable changes.
Palmer, Rice, Livramento, Mainoo and Rashford have stepped away, prompting the recall of Gibbs‑White and Garner. Tuchel has stressed the importance of performance over mere selection, urging the returning players to seize their opportunities and demonstrate the consistency required to stay in the national team. The situation underscores the delicate balance between managing player fitness and maintaining a competitive squad ahead of crucial international matches.