Injury may keep Palmer out of England squad

Chelsea striker Cole Palmer is set to withdraw from England’s squad for the upcoming international break due to a minor injury.

Germany-born Thomas Tuchel, England’s manager, had called up the 24-year-old Palmer for his squad after the player’s controversial omission from the World Cup squad.

Tuchel had previously stated that Palmer has “something to prove” and needs to “raise his level” in order to “retain his place and justify his selection.”

However, the Chelsea forward will now miss the international break, during which England will play four matches in the UEFA Nations League, according to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on Monday.

England will face World Cup champions Spain at Wembley Stadium on September 26, before traveling to the Czech Republic on September 29. They will then face Croatia on October 3, before hosting the Czech Republic again on October 6.

Palmer’s withdrawal comes after he played the full 90 minutes in Chelsea’s 3-0 defeat to Brentford last Friday.

Following a summer break after his exclusion from England’s World Cup squad, Palmer started six of Chelsea’s seven matches, completing 90 minutes in five of them, scoring four goals and providing two assists.