England’s preparation for their upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures have hit a snag with the withdrawal of three key players.
Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, and Ollie Watkins have all been ruled out of the squad due to various issues, leaving manager Lee Carsley with a notable gap to fill ahead of the crucial matches.
Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden has been sidelined due to illness. The 24-year-old, who has struggled with fitness this season, did not report to the England camp and has been ruled out of the upcoming fixtures against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin on September 7 and Finland at Wembley Stadium on September 10. Foden has only seen limited action this season, playing just 45 minutes as a substitute in City’s Premier League opener against Chelsea.
Chelsea forward Cole Palmer, 22, has also withdrawn from the squad. The young striker has returned to his club to continue rehabilitation for ongoing issues.
Despite being a regular in Chelsea’s league fixtures this season, Palmer’s fitness concerns have necessitated his return to club duty.
Palmer had been part of England’s squad during their European Championship campaign earlier this summer and his absence will be felt by the national team.
Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins, 28, is the third player to withdraw. Watkins has been dealing with his own set of issues and, like Palmer, has returned to his club to focus on rehabilitation.
Watkins has featured in all of Villa’s opening three league matches but missed pre-season preparations.
His withdrawal comes after a strong performance in the European Championship, where he made a significant impact for England.
The absence of these three players leaves Lee Carsley, who is temporarily in charge following Gareth Southgate’s departure, with a challenge to reconfigure his squad.
Foden, Palmer, and Watkins were all key contributors in the previous season, and their withdrawals will require Carsley to explore alternative options for the Nations League games.
The England squad will now look to other players to step up and fill the void left by these absences as they prepare to face the Republic of Ireland and Finland in their Nations League campaign.
The fixtures are crucial for England as they aim to build momentum and secure strong performances in the ongoing international competition.
