Thomas Tuchel has announced his England squad for September’s World Cup qualifiers, and one of the biggest talking points is the absence of Chelsea star Cole Palmer.
The 23-year-old has been one of England’s brightest young attackers over the past year, but he will miss the fixtures against Andorra and Serbia due to injury.
Palmer joins a growing list of unavailable talents, with Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Levi Colwill, and Trevoh Chalobah also sidelined.
Tuchel’s selection shows a balance of experience and opportunity for emerging names.
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Marcus Rashford makes a return after being left out of the last camp, while senior figures like John Stones, Marc Guehi, Jarrod Bowen and Ollie Watkins are also back in the fold.
At the other end of the spectrum, there are exciting first-time call-ups for Elliot Anderson of Newcastle and Djed Spence, now pushing for a breakthrough on the international stage.
Despite Palmer’s absence, Tuchel has not recalled some high-profile names such as Jack Grealish, Phil Foden, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kyle Walker and Harry Maguire, all of whom miss out once again.
Palmer’s omission is a particular blow, not just for the player but for England’s attacking options.
His creativity, composure in tight spaces and ability to produce goals from midfield have made him a growing figure in the national setup.
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