Alex Scott has been forced to withdraw from the England national team after sustaining a tendon problem during the 7-0 demolition of Croatia. England manager Thomas Tuchel insisted there were no warning signs before the midfielder took the field on Saturday, but the injury has now been confirmed as serious enough to keep him out for an uncertain period. According to Sky Sports News, Scott will travel back to his club, Bournemouth, where medical staff will conduct a thorough examination to gauge the full scope of the damage.
Early reports suggest that the recovery timeline could stretch over several weeks, though additional scans are scheduled to provide a clearer picture. In a press briefing held before England’s match against the Czech Republic, Tuchel elaborated on how the injury unfolded.
He stressed that there was absolutely no indication that Scott should have been omitted from the Croatia game. "With Alex it’s a strange case," the German coach said, visibly disappointed. "I’m very sad about it.
He trained in both sessions before the match and even did extra work after the training sessions." Tuchel continued, "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 match, we asked if he wanted to be substituted.
He said no. After the game he told us it was the right decision and that he could have played the full 90 minutes.
He didn’t feel any injury, not even on the flight back to London before we performed the scan. It’s odd because the scan’s objective data and the predicted downtime don’t seem to match.
From our side there was no awareness of any risk." The manager added a personal note, "I feel sad for him. We talk all the time, and even the day after the match he said he didn’t feel injured, so in my mind he was fine to start tomorrow." This comment underscores the perplexing nature of the situation: the player felt fine, the staff cleared him, yet a tendon issue emerged shortly after. Media outlets have reported that Bournemouth are displeased that one of their key players returned from international duty carrying an injury.
The club’s medical and performance departments have been in constant communication with the national team, according to Tuchel. "We are sharing information and this is a totally open process," he said when asked about the club’s reaction.
"I can understand Bournemouth are unhappy and sad because they lose a key player, but from the moment we decided to let him play there was absolutely no apparent risk to me or our physical staff." Tuchel was emphatic that no risk was taken knowingly. "If I had the slightest idea there was a risk, I would not have taken it.
I would never do this… It’s a one‑off." His remarks aim to reassure both the club and the public that the decision to field Scott was based on the best medical advice available at the time. Adding a human element to the story, Scott’s grandfather passed away while the midfielder was away with England on the international break. Despite the personal loss, Scott chose to stay on and play in honor of his late relative, who had been one of his biggest supporters throughout his career. This decision highlights the emotional weight the player carried during the match.
Scott’s performance in Rijeka earned him praise from Tuchel, who noted the midfielder’s effective link‑up play with Elliot Anderson – a teammate with whom Scott won the Under‑21 European Championship in 2025. However, the pain in his tendon forced him to request a substitution in the second half, a move that ultimately led to his withdrawal from the squad.
Transfer speculation has also surrounded Scott this summer. Sky Sports reported interest from Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea, yet Bournemouth have remained firm that the player is not for sale, emphasizing that he has two years left on his contract. Reports suggest Scott has turned down a new contract with the Cherries, despite the club’s insistence that they are under no pressure to sell.
Bournemouth’s next fixture is against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, scheduled for the Saturday following the international break. The club will have to cope without Scott’s midfield presence, a blow that could affect their tactical options against the London side. In related news, defender Ezri Konsa has also returned to his club, Arsenal, after being ruled out of England’s final match of the break against the Czech Republic.
Konsa suffered a minor muscle issue during the international period, which limited his training last week. He managed to play the full 90 minutes in the 7-0 win over Croatia but will not take part in the remaining England camp sessions.
Arsenal will assess his fitness before his next appearance. Tuchel commented on Konsa’s situation: "Ezri came into camp with discomfort. He 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, hosting Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium with a kickoff at 12.30pm. Both clubs will be keen to see their squads fully fit after the international break.
Overall, Alex Scott’s injury serves as a reminder of the fine line national team managers walk when balancing player welfare with competitive demands. While the midfielder’s decision to honor his late grandfather added a poignant note to the story, the subsequent medical revelations have sparked debate about the protocols surrounding player fitness assessments during international duty.
The coming weeks will reveal whether Scott can recover swiftly enough to rejoin Bournemouth’s campaign and whether his future at the club will remain secure amid ongoing transfer interest. Play Super 6 for a chance to win £1m! Enter for free.