Cole Palmer Reportedly Withdrawing From England Squad Amid Fitness Concerns
The Chelsea midfielder is said to be prioritizing his workload over international duty, with Manchester United duo also potentially absent.
Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer is reportedly set to withdraw from the upcoming England squad, according to a report from The Athletic. This decision comes despite manager Thomas Tuchel's recent comments emphasizing Palmer's need to "perform" to earn his place after being left out of the World Cup.
Palmer last represented England in March and was notably absent from the World Cup squad. However, he has been a key player for Chelsea this season. He played the entirety of Chelsea's recent 3-0 loss to Brentford, but the report indicates he wishes to manage his workload by skipping the international break.
England is scheduled to play Spain, Croatia, and the Czech Republic twice in Nations League fixtures over the next three weeks. Palmer's absence would be a notable blow to the team.
Tuchel had recently urged the 24-year-old to seize his opportunity with the national team. "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," Tuchel stated last week.
He further elaborated on Palmer's return to form, noting his "assists back, he has decisive goals back - so that is why he is in the squad." Tuchel also mentioned that Manchester United's Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo are also likely to withdraw from the squad due to injuries.