Tuchel frustrated as Palmer misses another England chance
Cole Palmer has withdrawn from England’s Nations League squad because of a lingering injury, and Thomas Tuchel says it’s another missed opportunity for the Chelsea forward to state his case.
Tuchel says Palmer keeps missing his chance
Palmer was one of five players to pull out of England’s squad for this window, joining Declan Rice, Marcus Rashford, Tino Livramento and Kobbie Mainoo on the injury list. His exit was put down to a niggling problem, though BBC Sport reported Tuchel’s understanding is that Palmer had been playing through discomfort and pain before withdrawing.
Speaking ahead of the Nations League opener against Spain at Wembley, Tuchel made clear how costly the timing is. He said the withdrawal amounts to another missed opportunity, adding that he can only judge players on what he sees in camp, and that Palmer simply misses too many of those sessions through injury.
It’s the latest setback for a player who has now featured just three times for England since Tuchel replaced Gareth Southgate. Palmer was left out of the World Cup squad entirely after an injury-hit 2025-26 campaign hampered his form, only to start this season sharply, with two goals and two assists in five Premier League appearances for Chelsea. Chelsea’s own injury update on Palmer covered his fitness picture heading into this squad call-up, with BBC Sport reporting he is currently abroad completing an injury-specific training plan.
Missing another camp matters because Tuchel has been explicit that being physically present is the only way he can properly assess a player, something Palmer can’t do from outside the group. His absence this month follows earlier groin problems, and it’s clear the forward’s fitness has been a recurring theme rather than an isolated blip.
Tuchel didn’t hide his frustration that repeated absences could hurt Palmer with the European Championships approaching, since trust with an international manager is built on the training pitch, not reputation. England open this window against Spain at Wembley, with further Nations League fixtures to follow, and, in editorial terms, a future camp would offer Palmer his next chance to impress if he is available. No return timeline has been confirmed.
In other news…
Chelsea’s attacking options continue to be shaped by fitness updates as much as form, with the club keeping a close eye on several first-team players managing niggles through this international break.
Squad depth debates rumble on elsewhere too, with plenty of chatter around who benefits most when key names like Palmer are missing from both club and country duty.
