Chelsea forward Cole Palmer has withdrawn from England’s squad for the opening four matches of the 2026–27 UEFA Nations League after suffering a muscle injury.
Palmer was recalled by manager Thomas Tuchel on Friday, September 18, after missing England’s 2026 World Cup squad. However, the 24-year-old will now miss the September and October international fixtures.
According to information gathered by Insightlinks, Palmer pulled out of the squad because of the injury after playing the full 90 minutes in Chelsea’s 3-0 Premier League defeat to Brentford on Friday.
The setback comes just days after Tuchel handed the Chelsea forward a return to the England setup, having previously left him out of the World Cup squad.
Explaining his decision to recall Palmer, Tuchel said: “Cole has his numbers back. Assists, decisive goals. I think he has a point to prove.”
Palmer had made an encouraging start to the new campaign, scoring four goals and providing two assists in seven appearances for Chelsea before the latest injury setback.
Speaking about his fitness before the injury, Palmer had said: “Physically I feel good, probably the best I’ve felt in ages, but I think I can [get fitter] with games and more minutes.”
He added: “Since I’ve come back I’ve been working every day to obviously stop it happening again. I just want to stay injury free, and if I’m on the pitch then I know what I can do.”
Palmer’s withdrawal leaves Tuchel with fewer attacking options ahead of England’s Nations League opener against Spain at Wembley on Saturday, September 26.
England are also scheduled to face Czechia in Prague on September 29, travel to Croatia on October 3 and host Czechia at Wembley on October 6.
Chelsea confirmed that Palmer and defender Wesley Fofana would instead focus on their fitness at Cobham, while young forward Omari Kellyman withdrew from England Under-20 duty after suffering a hamstring injury.
Palmer’s latest setback is another interruption to his fitness after an injury-affected 2025–26 campaign, which contributed to his absence from England’s World Cup squad.