Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer is a major doubt for England’s first matches under Thomas Tuchel next week after suffering an injury in training.
Palmer was not named in Chelsea’s matchday squad for the London derby trip to Arsenal on Super Sunday, days after he was named in Tuchel’s first England squad for World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia.
Palmer also missed England’s November internationals and joins the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Lewis Hall, Kobbie Mainoo, John Stones and Bukayo Saka as Three Lions absentees this month.
Speaking after Chelsea’s 1-0 loss to Arsenal, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca was asked if he would play for England next week: “I don’t think so to be honest. The injury is from yesterday’s session, it’s a muscular problem.
“We don’t wish players to be injured but in Cole’s case it can give him some rest physically and mentally, it could be good. He needs a scan, the scan is planned for tomorrow or Monday.”
Chelsea are hopeful Palmer will be fit to return after the international break.
England squad in full
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Southampton), James Trafford (Burnley).
Defenders: Dan Burn (Newcastle United), Levi Colwill (Chelsea), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Reece James (Chelsea), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), Tino Livramento (Newcastle United), Jarell Quansah (Liverpool), Kyle Walker (AC Milan, loan from Manchester City).
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), Jordan Henderson (Ajax), Curtis Jones (Liverpool), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa).
Forwards: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Marcus Rashford (Aston Villa, loan from Manchester United), Dominic Solanke (Tottenham Hotspur).
