Cole Palmer has withdrawn from the England squad with a muscular injury, Chelsea sources have confirmed. The 24-year-old forward's place has been taken by Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White, who is cutting short a family holiday in Dubai to join the national team.
Palmer's decision to pull out is also linked to managing his workload after an injury-hit previous campaign. Chelsea are currently 10th in the Premier League standings with seven points from five games, and Palmer has started every league match under manager Xabi Alonso this term.
England manager Thomas Tuchel had issued a direct challenge to Palmer when recalling him to the squad last week. "It is one thing to be nominated, like with Cole, and getting your ticket back in the squad but it's another thing to perform for England," Tuchel said at Wembley. He added that Palmer "has a point to prove" to secure his place in the team.
The withdrawal is set against a backdrop of several other absences. Manchester United duo Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo have also pulled out, alongside Declan Rice and Tino Livramento. James Garner joins Gibbs-White in receiving a late call-up.
Gibbs-White, 26, was a surprise omission from Tuchel's initial selection. The Forest playmaker was on holiday after his side's defeat to Coventry on Saturday. Tuchel had explained the original decision by stating it "makes no sense to nominate three, four, five No 10s," but acknowledged Gibbs-White's strong end to the season and key role for his club.
For Chelsea, Palmer's fitness is a priority as they prepare for their next Premier League fixture against Bournemouth on October 10, a key match in their fixtures list. The team's form has been mixed, with a 3-0 loss at Brentford in their last outing preceding that home game.
Palmer managed 34 games last season despite battling thigh and hamstring problems, scoring 11 goals. He recently reflected on that difficult period in a live stream, stating, "I had one leg for 10 months." His current issue is described as minor, with the club keen to oversee his recovery. Chelsea are also without top scorer João Pedro, who has three goals this season, due to injury.
Tuchel is scheduled to speak to the media this Friday and will likely address Palmer's absence. England face World Cup winners Spain first, followed by two matches against Czechia and one versus Croatia in the upcoming international window. The manager's warning to Palmer about justifying his selection now applies to the newcomers in the squad. Gibbs-White, who was left out of the World Cup squad, gets his chance to impress after rivals withdrew.
This story first appeared at Daily Mail Sport
