England manager Thomas Tuchel has been forced to reshuffle his squad ahead of the Nations League after five players, including Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice and Chelsea star Cole Palmer, withdrew from the team.
According to The Independent, the withdrawals have opened the door for Morgan Gibbs-White and James Garner, who have been called up to join Tuchel’s squad for England’s Nations League fixtures against world champions Spain, Czech Republic and Croatia.
Rice, England’s vice-captain, is being rested as part of a cautious approach to managing his workload following an exceptionally demanding campaign.
The Arsenal midfielder made 69 appearances for club and country last season, including England’s World Cup campaign, and featured in Arsenal’s 3-0 defeat to Brighton on Saturday.
Palmer, meanwhile, is understood to be dealing with a minor muscle problem. The Chelsea forward played in his side’s 3-0 defeat to Brentford on Friday and had featured in all five of Chelsea’s Premier League matches this season.
The Independent reported that Palmer’s withdrawal represents another setback for the 24-year-old, who endured a disrupted campaign last season because of injuries. He recently disclosed during a Twitch stream that he had “one leg” for much of the previous 10 months.
The other three withdrawals are Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford, midfielder Kobbie Mainoo and Tottenham Hotspur defender Tino Livramento, all of whom are unavailable because of injuries.
Rashford’s latest setback came during Manchester United’s 1-1 draw with Fulham on Sunday, with manager Michael Carrick confirming that the forward had picked up an issue and was substituted after appearing to struggle with his hip.
The hip had also been a concern for Rashford during the summer, adding another fitness concern to Tuchel’s preparations as England begin their post-World Cup Nations League campaign.
The five withdrawals mean Tuchel will have to work with a significantly altered squad as England prepare for a demanding sequence of international fixtures, with Gibbs-White and Garner now drafted into the group.
