England manager Thomas Tuchel has seen five players withdraw from his squad ahead of a series of Nations League fixtures, leading to the recall of Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White and Everton’s James Garner. The players pulling out include Cole Palmer, Declan Rice, Tino Livramento, and Manchester United duo Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo.
The replacements, Gibbs-White and Garner, are scheduled to join the squad on Tuesday. Tuchel stated on Friday that the 26-year-old Gibbs-White, who has six international caps, had been close to being included in the initial selection. According to Sky Sports, Tuchel praised the Forest captain’s form, noting that he ended the previous season strongly and served as a key player in ensuring Nottingham Forest avoided relegation.
Injury Withdrawals and Club Assessments
Cole Palmer, 24, has withdrawn due to a minor injury. Palmer had recently been recalled by Tuchel after being left out of the World Cup squad in the summer. Kaveh Solhekol, chief correspondent for Sky Sports News, noted that while the injury is not serious, it requires management, and it did not make sense for the player to leave Chelsea for three weeks of international duty. Palmer has previously struggled with a recurring groin injury throughout the 2025-26 campaign, a situation former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca claimed did not make sense, according to Goal.com.
Manchester United’s Rashford and Mainoo were assessed by their club after being substituted during the closing stages of a 1-1 draw against Fulham on Sunday. Rashford has been managed by the club for a hip injury since the World Cup and was observed limping after his substitution. While Mainoo played 80 minutes in the same fixture, Michael Carrick stated his replacement was for tactical reasons. Mainoo, who was part of the World Cup squad but did not play a single minute, had been promised by Tuchel that he would be on the pitch during this international break.
Additional withdrawals include Newcastle United defender Tino Livramento, who has been limited to three substitute appearances this season, and Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice. Rice played the full match in Arsenal’s 3-0 loss to Brighton, though Sky Sports reports he played through injury throughout the World Cup tournament.
Upcoming Nations League Schedule
The Three Lions are entering an extended international break with four scheduled matches:
- September 26: Spain (at Wembley)
- September 29: Czech Republic (Away)
- October 3: Croatia (Away)
- October 6: Czech Republic (at Wembley)
Context of Squad Selection
The current squad follows England’s performance in the World Cup, where they reached the semi-finals before losing 2-1 to Argentina in Atlanta. This latest selection includes 10 new call-ups or returning players, while nine World Cup players are absent, many due to injury.
Gibbs-White enters the squad following a strong start to the domestic season, recording one goal and two assists in five league matches. He is the highest scoring midfield player in Europe’s top five leagues in the 2026 calendar year and created seven chances during a 2-1 victory against Aston Villa. His last senior appearance was in October 2025 during a 3-0 friendly win over Wales. James Garner also joins the squad having not been selected for the 2026 World Cup, following two senior appearances made in March.
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