England is expected to field a lineup with several key absences during the upcoming international break, as Cole Palmer is set to leave Thomas Tuchel’s squad, while Marcus Rashford and Koby Mainoo remain doubtful.
Palmer played the full 90 minutes in Chelsea’s 3-0 loss to Brentford, but he is not expected to be called up to the national team after all, with the decision related to managing his playing load. The 24-year-old has made seven appearances in all competitions this season, with four goals and two assists.
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There is also an issue with Marcus Rashford. The Manchester United forward is dealing with hip discomfort, an issue his team has been managing since the World Cup. Although he will undergo further tests, it is likely that he will miss England’s upcoming matches.
Rashford was substituted in the 77th minute of United’s match against Fulham, with Michael Carrick confirming after the game that the 28-year-old was feeling some discomfort. Meanwhile, Koby Mainoo, who played for 80 minutes at Craven Cottage, is also dealing with an injury and is among the potential absentees.
For Palmer, the absence is a blow following his return to Tuchel’s lineup. The Chelsea star was not named to the World Cup squad, and last season he struggled with injuries. With the England national team, he has scored two goals in 14 appearances, with his last senior appearance coming against Japan last March.
England has four matches ahead of it in the Nations League group stage over the course of three weeks. First, they will host Spain at Wembley on September 26, followed by a match against the Czech Republic in Prague, Croatia in Rijeka, and the Czech Republic again in London on October 6.
*photo source: AP
