Cole Palmer withdraws from England squad for Nations League with minor injury

On 21 September 2026, Cole Palmer withdrew from England’s squad for the forthcoming Nations League international break because of a minor injury. The Chelsea forward will miss the set of fixtures that make up England’s long international window.

Thomas Tuchel had called up Palmer after the forward was controversially left out of the Three Lions’ World Cup roster, and Tuchel previously said Palmer had a “point to prove” and needed to “step up” to “keep his shirt and justify the nomination.” Palmer last featured for England in a 1-0 friendly defeat to Japan in March 2026. The squad’s international break comprises four matches over the next fortnight.

Palmer completed the full 90 minutes for Chelsea in their 3-0 defeat at Brentford on Friday before withdrawing from national duty. After a summer out following his World Cup exclusion, Palmer has appeared in six of Chelsea’s seven matches, playing the entire match in five, and has recorded four goals and two assists in that run.

The decision to withdraw is linked to Palmer’s recent physical issues; he was frustrated by a recurring groin injury during the 2025-26 season. The article states his reluctance to risk his body stems from a season that was marred by thigh and hamstring problems.

Despite making 34 appearances in 2025-26, including 24 Premier League starts, and scoring 10 goals with one assist, Palmer struggled to maintain consistent fitness. The report says he failed to stay in top physical condition over that campaign.

Palmer’s absence from the upcoming fixtures leaves him needing further opportunities to secure a regular role in Tuchel’s starting XI, and he has scored only two goals in 14 senior international appearances. He will therefore miss England’s next match, the Nations League game against World Cup champions Spain at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, September 26.