Palmer set to miss England games after latest injury setback

Cole Palmer is set to withdraw from England’s squad after suffering a minor injury just days after earning a recall from manager Thomas Tuchel.

The Chelsea forward had been brought back into the Three Lions setup after controversially missing out on the World Cup squad, but he is now expected to miss England’s upcoming Nations League fixtures.

Palmer played the full 90 minutes in Chelsea’s 3-0 defeat by Brentford on Friday before the latest injury setback.

Palmer’s England return cut short

Tuchel had challenged Palmer to prove himself after recalling the 24-year-old, saying he had a “point to prove” and needed “to step up” to “keep his shirt and justify the nomination”.

The forward will now miss an extended international period that includes four matches for England.

The Three Lions host World Cup winners Spain at Wembley on September 26 before travelling to face the Czech Republic three days later.

England then visit Croatia on October 3 before hosting the Czech Republic again on October 6.

Strong Chelsea form interrupted

Palmer had enjoyed a productive start to the season following his summer away from international duty.

He has started six of Chelsea’s seven matches, completing the full 90 minutes in five of them, while contributing four goals and two assists.

His latest injury comes after he struggled with a recurring groin problem during the 2025-26 campaign.

Palmer’s last appearance for England came in March, when the Three Lions suffered a 1-0 friendly defeat against Japan.

His latest withdrawal means Tuchel will have to wait longer to see Palmer back in an England shirt after deciding to recall the Chelsea star.