Cole Palmer is set to withdraw from Thomas Tuchel’s squad for the international window, only three days after the Chelsea forward was recalled by the England head coach. The 24-year-old played all 90 minutes of Chelsea’s 3-0 loss at Brentford on Friday evening and, with a recent groin problem still on his mind, has opted not to travel.

Palmer was the headline pick when Tuchel named his 27-man group on September 18, following the forward’s absence from the World Cup squad. Reports on Monday morning describe the withdrawal as a precaution linked to a “small injury”, after a start to the season that has produced four goals and two assists in seven appearances under new Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso.

United duo Rashford and Mainoo in doubt

The picture at Manchester United is not much brighter. Both Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo picked up knocks in United’s 1-1 draw at Fulham on Sunday and are now in doubt for the Spain fixture. Rashford was substituted in the first half after what United head coach Michael Carrick called an “issue”, while Mainoo made it to the 80th minute before being taken off.

“We had to bring him off as he had a bit of an issue,” Carrick said of Rashford after the game.

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Asked about the forward’s condition, he replied: “I’m not sure.”

Newcastle right-back Tino Livramento is also expected to pull out. The 23-year-old missed his club’s 2-1 win over Hull with a fresh injury and will undergo an MRI scan on a calf complaint, having already had his World Cup cut short in the summer by a hamstring problem.

Spain first as absentee list grows

England open their Nations League A group at Wembley on Saturday, September 26, with kick-off at 7:45pm local time. Spain, managed by Luis de la Fuente, are the visitors in what already looked the toughest tie of the window before the list of absentees started to grow.

Tuchel then travels to Prague to face Czechia on September 29, on to Rijeka for Croatia on October 3, and back to Wembley for a return with Czechia on October 6.

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