Chelsea forward Cole Palmer was named in Thomas Tuchel's England squad for fixtures against Spain, Czechia and Croatia after missing out on the World Cup
Cole Palmer during a Chelsea game
Chelsea star Cole Palmer is set to pull out of the England squad(Image: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
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Cole Palmer is set to withdraw from the England squad ahead of the international break due to load management. The Blues midfielder was set to return to the fray after missing the summer's World Cup.
England face Spain, Czechia home and away and Croatia in an extended Nations League period. But Thomas Tuchel will be without Chelsea star Palmer, having brought him back into the squad after an impressive start to the season.
According to The Athletic, Palmer's fitness is set to be managed after making seven appearances this season, following a campaign hampered by injury last term.
After naming his squad last week, Tuchel had suggested that Palmer's return offered him a chance to prove a point after last representing the Three Lions in March against Japan.
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"They had a good start to the season," Tuchel said of Palmer and Trent Alexander-Arnold. "They never did something wrong. We just chose different players.
"So now it is a new competition. Some players, some positions, have more injuries. Some have less injuries. Cole has his starts that he always had but he has his numbers back - he has his assists back, he has decisive goals back - so that is why he is in the squad.
"I think he has a point to prove, and the same goes for Trent. He was never off the list. He was never non-selectable for us, and it is his chance to show, come to camp and be the best version of himself."
Cole Palmer
Chelsea's Cole Palmer last featured in England's defeat to Japan in March(Image: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
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Tuchel made it clear that the 24-year-old had to impress. "It is one thing to be nominated, like with Cole, and getting your ticket back in the squad but it's another thing to perform for England," he said.
"Cole needs to step up when he comes and he needs to show these kind of numbers to get his place, keep his shirt and justify the nomination."
Palmer has scored four goals and provided two assists in seven appearances this term, following the arrival of Xavi Alonso at Stamford Bridge. The Spanish boss has previously suggested that any injury issues are behind the Chelsea star.
“I think that sometimes you need to go through a difficult moment with an injury or whatever to learn from that,” said Alonso. “I think that Cole has gone through a difficult period with the injury, and now he’s working really hard to have the prevention not to have to feel those symptoms.”