Alex Scott has been forced to withdraw from England's senior team after sustaining a tendon problem during the 7-0 demolition of Croatia. Despite Thomas Tuchel insisting there were no warning signs before the midfielder took the field on Saturday, the injury appears to be more serious than initially thought. Sky Sports reports that Scott will travel back to his club, Bournemouth, for a thorough medical assessment to gauge the full extent of the damage. Early indications suggest he could be sidelined for a number of weeks, although additional scans are scheduled to confirm the prognosis.
In a pre‑press conference ahead of England's match against the Czech Republic, Tuchel provided further insight into how the injury unfolded. He explained that there were no obvious indicators that Scott should have been rested for the Croatia game. "With Alex it's a strange one.
I'm very sad about it," Tuchel said. "He trained in both sessions before the match and even did extra work after the sessions.
We knew he was in treatment, but we only received the green light from him and the medical staff. When we noticed a slight discomfort during the match we asked if he wanted to be substituted. He said no." Tuchel continued, describing the player's mindset after the game: "Afterwards he said it was the right decision but he could've played the full 90 minutes.
He didn't feel an injury, even on the plane back to London before we did the scan. It is a strange situation because the scan's objectivity and the predicted recovery time don't seem to match. 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." The situation has sparked media speculation that Bournemouth are displeased that one of their key players returned from international duty with a fresh injury, and that perhaps he should not have been fielded in Rijeka. When questioned about the club's reaction, Tuchel said, "The medical and physical department is in constant contact with all the players who are with us. 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 made the decision to let him play, there was absolutely no risk 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. This is a one‑off." Adding a personal note, Scott's grandfather passed away while the midfielder was away with the national team during the international break. Despite the loss, Scott chose to stay on and play in honor of his late grandfather, who had been his biggest supporter throughout his career. His decision was praised by many who recognized the emotional weight of representing his country while grieving.
Scott's debut start for England in Rijeka earned him plaudits from Tuchel, who highlighted his chemistry with fellow midfielder Elliot Anderson, a teammate with whom he had won the U21 European Championship in 2025. However, midway through the second half, Scott signaled that he was feeling pain and asked to be taken off, a request that was ultimately denied at the time because he insisted he could continue. Transfer rumors have also been swirling around the young midfielder.
Sky Sports reported that Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea all expressed interest in signing Scott this summer. Nevertheless, Bournemouth have been firm in their stance that he is not for sale, emphasizing that he has two years left on his contract and that the club is under no pressure to offload him. Reports also suggest that Scott has turned down a new contract extension with Bournemouth, despite the interest from top‑flight clubs. Bournemouth's upcoming fixture sees them travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea in the first match after the international break.
The club will be without Scott, and they will also be missing Ezri Konsa, who has returned to 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 Croatia win but will now return to Arsenal for further fitness evaluation. 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." In domestic competition, Arsenal are set to host Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday at 12:30 pm, marking their return to Premier League action after the break.
Meanwhile, the broader football community is reminded of the fine balance between player welfare and competitive ambition, especially when international fixtures intersect with club commitments. The incident underscores the unpredictable nature of injuries in elite sport.
Even with extensive medical screening and player self‑reporting, some ailments only manifest after the exertion of a high‑intensity match. It also highlights the responsibility borne by national team managers to weigh short‑term gains against long‑term health, a dilemma that Tuchel has openly grappled with in this case. As the recovery timeline for Scott becomes clearer, Bournemouth fans will be hoping for a swift and complete return.
The midfielder's blend of technical skill, vision, and work rate makes him a valuable asset for both club and country, and his absence will be felt on the pitch. For now, the focus will be on rehabilitation, with physiotherapists and medical staff monitoring his progress closely, ensuring that when he does step back onto the field, he does so fully fit and ready to contribute at the highest level.