Alex Scott has been forced to withdraw from England's squad after sustaining a tendon problem during the 7-0 victory over Croatia. Despite Thomas Tuchel's insistence that there were no warning signs before the midfielder took the field on Saturday, the injury has now been confirmed as serious enough to require further medical evaluation.
According to Sky Sports News, Scott will travel back to his club, Bournemouth, where a thorough assessment will be carried out to determine the full extent of the damage. Early indications suggest that the midfielder could be sidelined for a period of several weeks, although additional scans are scheduled to provide a clearer picture of the recovery timeline. In a pre‑Czech Republic press conference, England manager Thomas Tuchel shed more light on the circumstances surrounding the injury. He emphasized that there was no indication prior to the match that Scott should have been rested.
"With Alex it's a strange one," Tuchel said, expressing his disappointment. "He trained in both sessions before the match and even did extra work after the training sessions. We knew he was in treatment, but we only received the green light from him and the medical team. When we noticed a slight discomfort during the game we asked if he wanted to come off, and he said no." Tuchel went on to describe the puzzling nature of the injury.
"Afterwards he said it was the right decision but he could've played the full 90. He didn't feel an injury, even on the plane back to London before we did the scan. It's a strange one because it does not match the objectivity of the scan and the prediction of the time he is going to miss. There was no awareness of any risk from our side.
I feel sad for him. We have an exchange all the time and when he went out, even the day after, he didn't feel injured so in my mind, he started tomorrow." Media outlets have reported that Bournemouth are displeased that one of their key players returned from international duty carrying an injury, suggesting that perhaps he should not have been fielded in Rijeka.
In response, Tuchel noted that the national team's medical and physical staff maintain constant communication with club doctors. "The medical and physical department is in constant contact with all the players who are with us," he said. "We are sharing information and this is a totally open process.
I can totally understand that Bournemouth are not happy and sad because they lose a key player, but from the moment we decided to let him play there was absolutely no risk whatsoever apparent to me or our physical staff. I have not taken any risks, even if it was a big opportunity for him and we wanted him to start.
If I had the slightest idea there was a risk, I would not have taken it. It is a one‑off." Adding a personal note, Scott's grandfather passed away while the midfielder was away with the England squad during the international break.
Scott chose to stay on and play in memory of his late grandfather, who had been one of his biggest supporters throughout his career. The decision was praised by many, highlighting Scott's dedication and emotional strength.
Scott's debut start for England in Rijeka earned him plaudits from Tuchel, who noted his effective partnership with Elliot Anderson, a fellow player who helped win the U21 European Championship in 2025. Despite feeling pain in the second half, Scott initially asked to stay on the pitch, only later requesting to be substituted. Off the field, there have been rumours linking Scott with moves to several top Premier League clubs, including Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea.
However, Bournemouth have made it clear that the player is not for sale, emphasizing that he has two years left on his contract and that the club is under no pressure to sell. Reports suggest that Scott has turned down a new contract offer from Bournemouth, despite the interest from other clubs. Bournemouth themselves will face Chelsea in their first match after the international break at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, a fixture that will be closely watched given Scott's uncertain availability. In related news, defender Ezri Konsa has also returned to his club, Arsenal, after being ruled out of England's final game of the break against the Czech Republic.
Konsa suffered a minor muscle issue during the break, which forced him to miss a training session. He managed to play the full 90 minutes in the 7-0 win over Croatia but will not participate further in the England camp. Tuchel explained, "Ezri came into camp with discomfort.
Played against Spain which made it worse. He stayed in camp and tried everything for the match in Croatia and gave the green light. Unfortunately, he got another hit on the quad and it caused some light trauma. We decided not to let him play again through the pain.
Nothing major but not worth taking the risk." Arsenal are set to return to Premier League action on Saturday when they host Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 12:30 pm. Overall, the injuries to both Scott and Konsa underline the challenges national team managers face in balancing player welfare with the demands of international competition.
While England will miss the creative spark that Scott provides in midfield, the coaching staff will have to rely on other options as they prepare for upcoming fixtures. The situation also raises broader questions about the protocols for player assessment before matches, especially when clubs express concerns about the health of their assets. As the medical scans for Scott are completed and Bournemouth provides further updates, fans will be eager to learn when the midfielder might return to full training and, ultimately, to the pitch.