England and Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer is set to pull out of the England squad for the upcoming international break – despite manager Thomas Tuchel saying he has ‘a point to prove’ and must ‘perform’ after missing the World Cup, according to a report.
Palmer last played for England in March and controversially wasn’t selected for the World Cup, though has been in fine form for Chelsea this season.
He played the full 90 minutes of the Blues’ 3-0 defeat by Brentford on Saturday but now, according to The Athletic, is set to skip England’s upcoming games to manage his workload.
The Three Lions will take on Spain, Croatia and Czechia twice in Nations League games over the next three weeks, but will now do so without Palmer.
His decision comes after Tuchel had issued the 24-year-old with a stern warning upon recalling him to the squad last week.
Tuchel said: ‘It is one thing to be nominated, like with Cole, and getting your ticket back in the squad but it’s another thing to perform for England.
Cole Palmer has pulled out of the England squad to manage his work load after an injury-hit season last campaign
England boss Thomas Tuchel (left) warned that Palmer had to ‘perform’ following his recall
Manchester United duo Kobbie Mainoo (left) and Marcus Rashford (right) are also expected to withdraw through injury
‘Cole needs to step up when he comes and he needs to show these kind of numbers to get his place, keep his shirt and justify the nomination.’
He added: ‘So now it is a new competition. Some players, some positions, have more injuries. Some have less injuries. Cole has his starts that he always had but he has his numbers back – he has his assists back, he has decisive goals back – so that is why he is in the squad.
‘I think he has a point to prove, and the same goes for Trent. He was never off the list. He was never non-selectable for us, and it is his chance to show, come to camp and be the best version of himself.’
Palmer has four goals and two assists in seven games this season after struggling during the last campaign through injury.
He battled thigh and hamstring problems as he returned 11 goals and three assists in 34 games, revealing on a live stream last week: ‘I had one leg for 10 months, f***ing hell, what do you want me to do?’
It is also reported that Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo are likely to pull out of the squad due to injury.
Rashford has been battling a hip issue since the World Cup, and is likely to withdraw from England duty to have that managed.
He started Manchester United’s 1-1 draw with Fulham on Sunday, with manager Michael Carrick revealing after that he was substituted in the second-half.
Mainoo is also struggling with an issue and is expected to pull out too. The 21-year-old was in the squad at the World Cup, but did not play a single minute.
