Cole Palmer withdraws from England squad with muscular injury after Chelsea's Brentford defeat

Cole Palmer has withdrawn from the England squad for the international break, Chelsea confirmed, ruling him out of Nations League matches against Spain, Czechia and Croatia.

The Chelsea midfielder was recalled by head coach Thomas Tuchel after being left out of England’s World Cup squad, with his strong start to the club season earning him a return to the international setup. That comeback will now have to wait after Palmer reported a small muscular injury.

The withdrawal is a setback for Tuchel, who had publicly praised Palmer’s form under Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso ahead of the international window. Palmer’s absence also adds to concerns at Stamford Bridge following the club’s 3-0 defeat away to Brentford, the match played just days before the injury was flagged.

No timeline for Palmer’s return has been confirmed, though the nature of the complaint — described as a small muscular issue — suggests the intention is to manage the injury conservatively rather than risk aggravating it during international duty.