Arsenal
England have been hit by a fresh injury blow this week, with Declan Rice among five stars withdrawing from Thomas Tuchel’s squad. The Arsenal midfielder’s absence is the standout line in the latest squad news, as England prepare for their Nations League fixtures against Spain and Czechia.
Five England stars withdraw from squad
Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice has withdrawn from the England squad, joining four other players who have also pulled out this week. Also sidelined this week are four more names, Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, Manchester United pair Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo, plus Newcastle star Tino Livramento. As reported by The Sun, all five players are dealing with injury concerns that emerged after a demanding club season, a reminder of how grueling the modern football calendar has become for top players. Their absence leaves Tuchel with big decisions ahead of the Spain game at Wembley this weekend, with Czechia to follow later this month.
Stepping in as replacements are James Garner and Morgan Gibbs-White. Both players will be joining the rest of the group at St George’s Park on Tuesday. Garner earned his first two senior caps back in March, while Gibbs-White already has six appearances for his country.
Declan Rice for Arsenal in 2025/26, as per FOTMOB:
Competitions Matches Goals Assists Chances Created Interceptions
Premier League 36 4 5 63 37
EFL Cup 6 0 2 7 5
UCL 13 1 2 26 15
Declan Rice World Cup role and Injury Concerns
Rice played a central part in England’s run to third place at the 2026 World Cup, their best finish since 1966. The Arsenal star featured in every match last summer except the final group game against Panama, taking his caps close to eighty. His current withdrawal has been attributed to injury concerns rather than a specific fresh setback that has been detailed publicly. Declan Rice played the full ninety minutes in Arsenal’s recent defeat to Brighton, with no issue flagged before that game. His absence from this camp still comes as a slight surprise given the timing involved.
At the World Cup, Rashford was a regular fixture too, turning out six times for the Three Lions. Mainoo, on the other hand, spent the entire tournament on the bench without getting minutes. Livramento missed the competition entirely after picking up an injury before it began. His withdrawal this time means the Newcastle full-back has now missed two major tournaments through fitness issues in the space of a year.
England football team
England football team
Palmer looks for a way back into the fold
Palmer’s situation stands apart from the rest, since he did not even make the World Cup squad. That decision followed a difficult 2025/26 season in which he managed just eleven goals and three assists in thirty-four appearances. Many had expected this international break to mark his return to the England setup. His withdrawal means that comeback will now have to wait a little longer. That is despite the fact he has started this Premier League season strongly for Chelsea.
Tuchel will hope his available players can deliver strong results across the four fixtures this month. The campaign kicks off against Spain at Wembley this Saturday, with a trip to Prague to take on Czechia set for September 29. Matches against Croatia and a replay against Czechia follow in October, giving fringe players like Garner and Gibbs-White a genuine chance to impress. With five regulars missing, competition for places in this Premier League heavy squad remains as intense as ever.
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