England manager Thomas Tuchel faces a significant setback ahead of the upcoming Nations League fixtures as five players have withdrawn from his squad. The list of absentees includes Cole Palmer, Declan Rice, Tino Livramento, and Manchester United duo Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo. Following these departures, Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White and Everton’s James Garner have been drafted in as replacements and are expected to link up with the team on Tuesday.
The absences follow a demanding weekend of Premier League action. Rashford and Mainoo were forced off late in Manchester United’s 1-1 draw against Fulham, while Arsenal’s Declan Rice played the full 90 minutes of his side’s 3-0 loss to Brighton. Livramento, who has featured sparingly for Newcastle United this season, and Cole Palmer are also sidelined. Tuchel previously highlighted the importance of this call-up for the 24-year-old Palmer, noting that the player had a point to prove and needed to justify his nomination after being left out of the recent World Cup squad. Palmer has ultimately withdrawn due to a minor injury.
Tuchel also addressed the inclusion of 26-year-old Gibbs-White, who has earned six international caps, stating he was nearing selection when the initial squad was announced. The Three Lions are preparing for a challenging run of matches, beginning with a high-profile encounter against World Cup winners Spain at Wembley on 26 September. This will be followed by away trips to the Czech Republic on 29 September and Croatia on 3 October, before concluding the extended international break by hosting the Czech Republic at home on 6 October. The report also notes that they were assessed by their club after being taken off in the closing stages of Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Fulham.
