Cole Palmer and Declan Rice have joined three other players in pulling out of the latest England training camp, prompting manager Gareth Tuchel to call up Morgan Gibbs‑White and James Garner as their replacements. The five who have withdrawn include Palmer, Rice, Tottenham’s promising right‑back Tino Livramento, and Manchester United’s young duo Kobbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford. Their absences have forced a reshuffle in the Three Lions’ roster ahead of the upcoming Nations League fixtures against Spain, the Czech Republic and Croatia.
Palmer’s situation is particularly noteworthy. After being omitted from Tuchel’s World Cup squad earlier this summer, the Chelsea forward was recalled for the post‑World Cup internationals and immediately featured for the full ninety minutes in Chelsea’s 2‑1 loss to Brentford.
Despite that appearance, he has now decided to step away from the England camp. Tuchel explained that both Palmer and Gibbs‑White must consistently demonstrate the quality and statistics that merit a regular place in the squad. "We can see the form Morgan is in and he ended the season very strongly, helping Forest avoid relegation. We can see him stepping up now," Tuchel said, before adding, "Cole needs to show these kinds of numbers and performances to get his shirt and justify the nomination." Palmer, who battled a persistent groin problem last season, told Sky Sports that he feels fully fit as the new club campaign gets underway.
"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 said. He reflected on the dilemma he faced before the World Cup, when he was torn between playing to secure a tournament spot and risking further injury.
"If I don’t play I'm not going, but if I play then I can't play properly," he admitted. Since returning to full training, Palmer 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." Declan Rice, meanwhile, has been a central figure for England throughout the World Cup, even though he was forced to compete while nursing an injury. This season he has started each of Arsenal’s first five Premier League matches, signalling his importance to both club and country.
However, the midfielder has now also opted out of the national team camp, citing the need to manage his fitness after a grueling international tournament. The two Manchester United players, Mainoo and Rashford, were initially listed as doubtful for the squad. Both were substituted in United’s 1‑1 draw with Fulham at Craven Cottage. Rashford, who has been dealing with a lingering hip issue since the World Cup, was visibly limping when he left the field.
Mainoo, who logged 80 minutes against Fulham, was taken off for tactical reasons, according to former United midfielder Michael Carrick. Mainoo was part of the World Cup squad in the summer but did not see any playing time. Tuchel has publicly promised that the youngster would receive minutes in this international break.
"I expect him to be on the pitch and it’s my duty to get him on the pitch," Tuchel asserted. "He didn’t put a foot wrong during the World Cup.
He was class in behaviour on the training pitch." Tuchel also addressed the broader context of his squad selections, acknowledging the competitive midfield landscape that includes players like Reece James and Elliot Anderson. He admitted that his decision to leave Palmer out of the World Cup squad was controversial and that he felt a responsibility to give Palmer a chance to prove himself now. "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," Tuchel said.
Sky Sports News chief correspondent Kaveh Solhekol offered his perspective, describing Palmer’s injury history as “quite a lot of injury problems, especially last season.” He noted that Palmer missed extended periods due to a long‑standing groin issue but has started every game this season, including the loss at Brentford. Solhekol suggested that while some critics might suspect hidden motives behind Palmer’s withdrawal, the decision is likely rooted in genuine injury management. "It doesn’t make sense from Chelsea’s perspective for him to go away on international duty for three weeks when he’s just getting back to full fitness," he argued. In summary, the England camp has undergone a significant reshuffle: Palmer, Rice, Livramento, Mainoo and Rashford have stepped back, while Gibbs‑White and Garner have been summoned to fill the gaps.
Tuchel’s emphasis on form, fitness and performance underscores his intent to field a squad that can compete at the highest level in the Nations League. The manager also reiterated his commitment to rewarding players who have shown resilience and professionalism, especially those who missed out during the World Cup. As the team prepares for the September and October fixtures, fans will be watching closely to see how the new call‑ups integrate and whether the replacements can match the contributions of those who withdrew.
The next two months will provide a clear picture of Tuchel’s evolving strategy and the depth of England’s talent pool as they aim to maintain momentum on the international stage.