Brentford v Chelsea FC - Premier League 2026/27
Cole Palmer is set to withdraw from England duty. (Image: Getty)
England have been rocked by the news of four injury concerns to players recently called up by Thomas Tuchel, with Chelsea star Cole Palmer reportedly set to pull out of the squad and doubts over two Manchester United players. Tuchel named a 27-man group for upcoming Nations League matches with Spain, Czechia and Croatia in an extended three-week break from club football.
Palmer earned a recall to the international setup after a scintillating start to the campaign alongside Morgan Rogers and Joao Pedro. He played the entire 90 minutes of Chelsea's 3-0 defeat to Brentford, but is not willing to risk the possible re-emergence of a groin injury.
The Athletic claim that Palmer is going to announce that he has withdrawn from international duty due to load management and what is being described as a 'small muscular injury', having started every Premier League game this season. The playmaker saw his 2025/26 season hampered by injury.
Meanwhile, Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo are doubts after picking up injury concerns in United's 1-1 draw with Fulham on Sunday.
United boss Michael Carrick admitted that Rashford was substituted off after an "issue" suffered in the first half.
"We had to bring him off as he had a bit of an issue," Carrick told beIN Sports. When asked about the forward's condition, the head coach replied: "I'm not sure."
Mainoo completed 80 minutes but appears to have also picked up an injury that has thrown his place into doubt.
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Newcastle right-back Tino Livramento is also slated to withdraw after missing his side's 2-1 win over Hull with a fresh injury blow. The 23-year-old, who saw his World Cup cruelly cut short by a hamstring problem, will undergo an MRI for a calf complaint.
Hull City v Manchester United - Premier League 2026/27
Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo are doubts for the upcoming international break with England. (Image: Getty)
In August, Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso had claimed that Palmer was over the injury problems that wrecked his previous campaign and caused Tuchel to overlook him for the World Cup.
"Cole is determined to enjoy his football," Alonso said at the time. "He wants to be fit. He wants to feel healthy. He wants to have a good connection with the players around him.
"I've said that if we have this Cole and we are able to reach him and he feels that flow in the game and that he connects well with the players, I'm sure that his level is top class, world class I would say, and that he will have a great season."
Tuchel is permitted to replace the likes of Palmer, Rashford, Mainoo and Livramento as the Three Lions face four games over the break, including two matches against Czechia.