England have officially confirmed that Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, and Ollie Watkins have all withdrawn from the national squad ahead of the September international break. This news comes as a blow to Gareth Southgate’s plans for the upcoming Nations League fixtures.
Phil Foden’s participation was already in doubt before the announcement. The Manchester City midfielder missed the club’s last two games, raising concerns about his availability for the international break.
City manager Pep Guardiola had earlier indicated that Foden was unlikely to be fit enough to represent England, and now it has been confirmed that he will not take part in the fixtures.
Foden did not report to the England camp at St. George’s Park due to an illness, and he has now been officially withdrawn from the squad.
Joining Foden on the withdrawal list are Cole Palmer and Ollie Watkins. Both players initially reported for duty but were later sent back to their respective clubs to continue their rehabilitation from ongoing issues.
A statement from the England camp explained, “The Three Lions squad reported to St. George’s Park on Tuesday, but following assessment, both Palmer and Watkins returned to their clubs to continue rehabilitation for ongoing issues.”
Despite the withdrawals, there is some positive news for Chelsea and Aston Villa, the clubs Palmer and Watkins represent, respectively. Neither player is believed to have suffered any new or severe injuries.
Palmer’s recent situation appeared concerning when he seemed to injure his hamstring during Chelsea’s UEFA Europa Conference League defeat to Servette. However, he managed to complete the full 90 minutes in a subsequent match against Crystal Palace just three days later. Chelsea has since confirmed that his withdrawal from the England squad is a precautionary measure, allowing him to “continue rehabilitation for ongoing issues.”
Ollie Watkins’ withdrawal is primarily attributed to fitness concerns rather than a specific injury. The Aston Villa striker has been substituted around the hour mark in each of the club’s three Premier League games this season.
Villa manager Unai Emery has clarified that Watkins is struggling to regain full fitness after a busy summer playing for England at Euro 2024. Emery stated, “He was coming here with a small injury; he was not really 100% when he started training with us. He needed one week more resting time than other players after his comeback.”
The absence of Foden, Palmer, and Watkins will undoubtedly be felt by England, especially as they prepare for crucial Nations League matches. However, their respective clubs will be relieved that none of the players are dealing with any significant injuries that could keep them sidelined for an extended period.
Meanwhile, England manager Gareth Southgate will have to consider replacements and adjust his squad to cope with these unexpected withdrawals.
