Ex-pro Collins accuses Cole Palmer of faking injury to skip England duty after World Cup snub

Former West Ham defender James Collins has publicly accused Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer of inventing an injury to withdraw from Thomas Tuchel’s England squad ahead of the upcoming Nations League fixtures against Spain, Czechia and Croatia.

Palmer, 24, was named in Tuchel’s latest call-up but subsequently pulled out with what Chelsea described as a “small muscular injury” sustained after the squad announcement. Collins, speaking on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, offered a blunt alternative theory rooted in his own playing experience — though he was clear he has no direct knowledge of Palmer’s situation.

“I would say that Cole Palmer had got the hump,” Collins said. “He’s got the hump that he didn’t go to the World Cup, and he’s pulled out of the England squad. That’s my opinion. I don’t know the lad, but from an ex-player point of view, I think he’s got the hump. It sounds to me as an ex-player that he’s gone to the fitness coach at Chelsea and said, ‘Really, I don’t fancy it, just say something’. It might not be that, but I’ve played the game, and that’s what it looks like to me.”

Chelsea have been approached for comment. According to reports, the club are keen to manage Palmer’s muscle complaint carefully, particularly given that injuries disrupted his campaign last season.

Palmer’s omission from Tuchel’s World Cup squad was one of the German’s most debated selection calls. Under new Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso, the midfielder has rediscovered his best form, contributing four goals and two assists in seven appearances this season — numbers that prompted Tuchel to restore him to the international setup before the withdrawal.

“He has his numbers back — he has his assists back, he has decisive goals back — so that is why he is in the squad,” Tuchel said when explaining Palmer’s recall alongside Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Palmer is not the only absentee. Tino Livramento, Kobbie Mainoo, Marcus Rashford and Declan Rice have also withdrawn from the squad. Tuchel has responded by calling up Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White and Everton’s James Garner, but has opted against recalling Phil Foden or Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton despite the mounting injury list in midfield.