Cole Palmer, a forward for Chelsea, has withdrawn from England’s team for the first four games of the 2026–27 UEFA Nations League due to a muscle ailment, according to Sky Sports.
After missing the Three Lions’ 2026 World Cup team, the 24-year-old was called up by England manager Thomas Tuchel on Friday, September 18. However, he will now miss the international matches in September and October.
“Cole Palmer is withdrawing from the England squad because of a muscle injury,” according to a Monday report from Sky Sports.
Palmer was chosen in Tuchel’s 27-man England team on Friday, the same day that Chelsea lost 3-0 to Brentford in the Premier League. Palmer played the entire ninety minutes for Chelsea.
Before the most recent setback, the Chelsea star enjoyed a great start to the new season, scoring four goals and dishing out two assists in seven games for the team, according to Sky Sports.
Only a few days after Tuchel gave him a path back into the England squad after he was left out of the World Cup, he withdrew.
Tuchel explained Palmer’s recall by saying, “Cole has his numbers back.” aids, clear objectives. He needs to prove something, in my opinion.
Prior to the most recent injury setback, Palmer had discussed his fitness with Sky Sports, saying, “Physically I feel good, probably the best I’ve felt in ages, but I think I can [get fitter] with games and more minutes.”
“Since I returned, I’ve been working every day to obviously stop it happening again,” he continued. All I want is to avoid getting hurt, and I know what I can do when I’m on the pitch.
Palmer was one of the Chelsea players called up for international duty, according to the club’s official website, which also mentioned that Tuchel had called him up for the beginning of England’s Nations League campaign.
According to the club’s schedule, England would welcome Spain at Wembley on Saturday, September 26, at 7.45 p.m., and then travel to Prague to play Czechia on Tuesday, September 29, at 7.45 p.m.
After that, on Saturday, October 3, England will travel to Croatia for their third match, with kickoff set for 5 p.m. On Tuesday, October 6, at 7.45 p.m., England will host Czechia at Wembley.
Tuchel, who just called up the Chelsea forward three days prior, may need to modify his offensive options for the first Nations League games due to Palmer’s departure.
Palmer and Real Madrid defender Trent Alexander-Arnold were two of the prominent returns in the eight alterations the England boss made to his team after the World Cup.
Palmer’s most recent setback also follows an injury-plagued 2025–2026 season in which he was left out of England’s World Cup squad due to fitness issues.
As Tuchel gets his team ready for their opening match at Wembley against the freshly crowned world champions Spain, the England camp will move forward without the Chelsea playmaker for the time being.
“After being called up by France, England, and the England Under-20s, respectively, Wesley Fofana, Cole Palmer, and Omari Kellyman withdrew from international duty this month.
“Kellyman has sustained a hamstring injury, while Fofana and Palmer will instead concentrate on their fitness at Cobham,” the team stated on its website.
