Thomas Tuchel has voiced uncertainty about how eager Cole Palmer truly is to represent England on the international stage. Palmer's omission from the World Cup squad earlier this summer sparked debate, largely because a string of injuries had hampered his form throughout the campaign. After a relatively quiet summer, Palmer seemed to rediscover his rhythm in the opening weeks of the current season, contributing to six goals or assists in just seven appearances for Chelsea. That resurgence prompted Tuchel to recall him for the Nations League fixtures against Spain, the Czech Republic and Croatia.
However, Palmer again withdrew, citing a fitness problem. This marks the second occasion since Tuchel assumed the England managerial role at the start of 2025 that Palmer has been summoned and then pulled out due to injury. In addition, Palmer has missed three full England training camps because of physical setbacks and has not been selected for another squad since.
When pressed about the impression that Palmer does not appear desperate to earn an England shirt, Tuchel replied, "It's hard to argue against what you're saying." Tuchel then outlined the alternatives available to the national side, naming Jude Bellingham, Morgan Rogers, Morgan Gibbs‑White and Eberechi Eze as players who are all present at camp, eager to contribute, and ready to travel at a moment's notice – even if it means cutting short a holiday in Dubai, as Gibbs‑White reportedly did. "All of them are here, all are hungry, all are available and all are prepared to go," the coach said. He added that his assessment of any player, including Palmer, is based on what they deliver for the national team.
"He keeps missing opportunities," Tuchel observed. "If Declan [Rice] calls me and explains something, and I see a problem in a match against Brighton, that confirms the impression. Every case is unique." The manager also referenced the situations of Marcus Rashford and the teenager Kobbie Mainoo, noting that both have played for their clubs while dealing with discomfort, yet they still report for England.
"It may look odd if they finish a club match over the weekend and then are absent for England, but we trust the players first and foremost," Tuchel explained. He emphasized that there is no reason for him to doubt the squad members who have accompanied the team to the United States and performed admirably. Even when Tino Livramento withdrew, Tuchel regarded it as a normal occurrence and refused to read too much into any single absence. Palmer has featured for England under Tuchel on three occasions across two training camps, and the England boss has previously labelled the forward's lack of availability as a problem.
"It's certainly a missed chance," Tuchel admitted. "He misses too many camps with injuries, and that's a fact. I don't blame him, but it is a reality." The coach stressed that his evaluation relies on direct observation within the national setup. "You have to be present at camp to impress at the next level.
You can't do that from the sidelines," he said. "If you're not in camp, you lose the chance to show what you can do alongside the squad." Palmer played the full ninety minutes for Chelsea against Brentford on the Friday before the international break began. When asked about the specific nature of his injury, Tuchel dismissed the notion that the club was simply managing his workload. "He is playing with discomfort and pain and cannot operate at his highest level under those conditions," Tuchel clarified.
"Chelsea have informed us of his situation. This is not a matter of load management; it's a competitive environment where players love to train together, and we will not compromise on that." Tuchel warned against allowing a narrative to develop that England players are reluctant to attend camps.
"We focus on those who genuinely want to wear the England shirt," he said. Sky Sports' Kaveh Solhekol interpreted Tuchel's comments as a sign of growing impatience. Over the two years since Tuchel took over, Palmer has rarely been available for England, frequently sidelined by injuries. Yet Palmer has started every Chelsea match this season except one, and Solhekol predicts he will be back in the Chelsea lineup as soon as the international break ends.
He noted that Tuchel essentially told players, "If you're not here, you can't impress me," opening the door for others to stake a claim for a place. The analyst also cited Jude Bellingham's example, who, despite a rocky relationship with Tuchel and an injury, still attended international duty and earned the manager's respect. "Why has Palmer been absent for the entire three‑week period?
Is his injury truly that severe, or is there another factor?" Solhekol asked. He added that Palmer is competing for the coveted No 10 role, but with Bellingham, Rogers, and Gibbs‑White also in the mix, Tuchel may not feel compelled to wait for Palmer.
Palmer joins a group of five players who have withdrawn from the original squad named by Tuchel, alongside Declan Rice, Kobbie Mainoo, Marcus Rashford and Tino Livramento. England captain Harry Kane was later asked whether these absences indicated a lack of commitment to the national team. Kane responded that every player is proud to represent England, but individual circumstances—physical and mental—vary. He emphasized that it is up to the player and the coach to manage those issues, and he looks forward to the demanding schedule ahead, noting that performance on the training pitch is what truly matters.
England's upcoming Nations League fixtures are set as follows: Saturday 26 September versus Spain at home (kick‑off 7.45 pm), Tuesday 29 September against the Czech Republic away (kick‑off 7.45 pm), Saturday 3 October versus Croatia away (kick‑off 5.00 pm) and Tuesday 6 October against the Czech Republic at home (kick‑off 7.45 pm). Fans can follow the matches on Sky Sports' website and app, and there is a promotional Super 6 competition offering a chance to win £1 million.