England's preparations for their upcoming Nations League matches have been dealt a blow with the withdrawal of five players from the squad due to injuries. Cole Palmer, Declan Rice, Tino Livramento, Kobbie Mainoo, and Marcus Rashford have all pulled out of the squad. The withdrawals have prompted manager Thomas Tuchel to call in Morgan Gibbs-White and James Garner as replacements. Gibbs-White and Garner will join the squad on Tuesday.
The withdrawals come as a significant setback for Tuchel, who had been looking to build on the team's momentum. Palmer, 24, had been recalled to the squad after being left out of England's World Cup squad and had a "point to prove" according to Tuchel. However, he has withdrawn with a minor injury. Rice, who played the full game for Arsenal in their 3-0 defeat by Brighton, will also be unavailable to Tuchel.
The England medical department and their counterparts at each of the clubs have agreed to the five players' withdrawals. No specific details have been released on the nature of the injuries. Palmer's withdrawal comes after he played the full game for Chelsea in their 3-0 defeat at Brentford on Friday. The withdrawals will be a concern for Tuchel ahead of England's Nations League matches.
England face World Cup winners Spain at Wembley on Saturday, 26 September, then travel to the Czech Republic on 29 September and Croatia on 3 October, before hosting the Czechs on 6 October. The team will be looking to make a strong impression in the Nations League. Tuchel will be hoping that the new additions will make an impact.
Gibbs-White, a 26-year-old midfielder from Nottingham Forest, has six international caps and was close to being included in the initial squad. He made his most recent England appearance in a 3-0 friendly win against Wales in October 2025. Garner, from Everton, has made two senior England appearances in March and comes in after not being selected for the 2026 World Cup.
Rice played 69 games for Arsenal and England last season, but much of it was carrying a hamstring injury which affected him at the World Cup. Despite this, he has played in 549 minutes of the 630 possible for Arsenal this term. The injuries to Rice and Palmer will be a concern for Tuchel and the England team.
The withdrawals have added to the challenge facing Tuchel as he looks to build a strong team for the Nations League matches. The England manager will be hoping that the new additions will settle in quickly and make an impact. The team will need to be at their best to achieve success in the Nations League.
Key points
- England manager Thomas Tuchel has called in Morgan Gibbs-White and James Garner as replacements for the five players who have withdrawn from the squad.
- The withdrawals include several key players, such as Cole Palmer and Declan Rice, who had been expected to play a major role in the Nations League matches.
- England face a tough schedule in the Nations League, with matches against Spain, the Czech Republic, and Croatia.
