England Squad Hits Snag as Foden, Palmer, and Watkins Withdraw for Nations League Matches

England’s preparations for their upcoming Nations League fixtures have been disrupted by the withdrawal of three key players: Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, and Ollie Watkins.

Injury and Illness Disrupt Squad

Manchester City forward Phil Foden, recently honored as the PFA Player of the Year, was set to join the England squad under interim manager Lee Carsley. However, he has been sidelined by illness and will not participate in the upcoming matches. Foden's absence is a significant blow, given his current form and importance to the team.

Chelsea's Cole Palmer and Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins also reported to St George's Park but have since returned to their clubs to continue their rehabilitation from ongoing injuries. The Football Association confirmed their withdrawals, stating that Palmer and Watkins needed more time to recover fully.

Nations League Fixtures

England is set to face the Republic of Ireland in Dublin on Saturday, 7 September, before hosting Finland at Wembley three days later. These fixtures mark England’s first competitive games since their defeat to Spain in the final of Euro 2024 on 14 July. The team’s performance in these matches will be closely watched as they look to rebound from their recent European disappointment.

Interim Manager Lee Carsley’s Adjustments

Following Gareth Southgate’s resignation post-Euro 2024, interim manager Lee Carsley has made several changes to the squad. The call-ups for Angel Gomes, Tino Livramento, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Noni Madueke reflect Carsley’s intent to infuse fresh talent into the team. All four players previously featured under Carsley’s management with the England Under-21 side.

Notable returns include Manchester City’s Jack Grealish, who was omitted from England’s preliminary Euro 2024 squad but has been recalled. Manchester United defender Harry Maguire also makes a return to the squad.

Looking Ahead

As England embarks on these Nations League games, Carsley will be keen to build a squad capable of bouncing back from recent setbacks. The absence of key players like Foden, Palmer, and Watkins adds an extra layer of challenge for the interim manager, who will rely on the emerging talent and returning stars to guide the team through these crucial fixtures.

With the pressure on to deliver strong performances and adapt to the squad changes, England’s upcoming matches will provide a crucial test for Carsley and his squad as they aim to restore confidence and momentum in their campaign.