Palmer & Rice among five withdrawals from England squad

Tino Livramento, Kobbie Mainoo, Cole Palmer, Marcus Rashford and Declan Rice have all withdrawn from England’s squad ahead of the upcoming Nations League fixtures, leaving manager Thomas Tuchel to call up Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs‑White and Everton’s James Garner, who will join the group on Tuesday. Tuchel confirmed that the 26‑year‑old Gibbs‑White, who already has six caps, was close to the original selection, while Palmer, 24, had been recalled after being omitted from the World Cup squad but pulled out with a minor injury. Rashford and Mainoo were assessed by Manchester United after being substituted in the final minutes of a 1‑1 draw with Fulham, and Rice, who completed the full‑time loss to Brighton for Arsenal, will also miss the matches; Livramento’s limited substitute appearances for Newcastle this season preceded his withdrawal.

The withdrawals stem from a combination of minor injuries and club‑level assessments, with the England medical team and each club’s staff agreeing that the five players cannot join the squad. Palmer’s exit follows a full‑90‑minute performance in Chelsea’s 3‑0 defeat at Brentford, during which he has started six of seven games, scored four goals and provided two assists, while managing a recurring groin problem that has troubled him since the 2025‑26 season. Rice, despite playing 549 of a possible 630 minutes for Arsenal this term, has been carrying a hamstring injury that lingered from the World Cup, and Livramento withdrew late after a knee issue surfaced following limited league involvement and brief cup appearances. Rashford and Mainoo have each started four of Manchester United’s five Premier League matches this season, prompting their clubs to evaluate their fitness after the Fulham draw.

England now faces a condensed international schedule, beginning with a home match against World Cup champions Spain at Wembley on 26 September, followed by away games in the Czech Republic on 29 September and Croatia on 3 October, before hosting the Czechs again on 6 October. The absence of the five withdrawn players forces Tuchel to rely on the newly added Gibbs‑White and Garner, both of whom have limited recent international experience, while also reshuffling the midfield and defensive options for the crucial September fixtures. Their unavailability could impact England’s tactical flexibility and depth, especially against high‑calibre opponents, and will test the squad’s resilience during the extended international break.

⚡ Effects Interpreter