Foden, Palmer and Watkins Withdraw From England’s Nations League Squad

It’s the start of a new era for the England men’s national football team under the leadership of interim England manager Lee Carsley. However, Carsley will have to deal with the absence of Phil Foden, Ollie Watkins and Cole Palmer.

This setback comes just as England prepares for their UEFA Nations League clashes against the Republic of Ireland and Finland. The Three Lions will travel to Dublin to face Ireland at the AVIVA Stadium on Saturday before hosting Finland at Wembley Stadium three days later. Unfortunately, Foden, Palmer, and Watkins won’t be part of the action, having withdrawn due to injuries and illness. In an official statement, the Football Association confirmed, “Cole Palmer, Ollie Watkins, and Phil Foden will play no part in England’s forthcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures.” 

Both Palmer and Watkins initially reported to St. George’s Park on Tuesday but were sent back to their clubs after assessments. Palmer, who was seen clutching his hamstring during Chelsea’s Conference League match against Servette, surprisingly managed to play in the subsequent Premier League games against Wolves and Crystal Palace. As for Watkins, Aston Villa have been cautious, managing his muscle issue by subbing him out around the 60-minute mark in their opening three Premier League games. Meanwhile, Phil Foden, who didn’t report to the England camp, is battling an illness that has also kept him out of Manchester City’s last two league fixtures. Despite these withdrawals, Lee Carsley hasn’t announced any replacements yet. 

The trip to AVIVA Stadium marks England’s return to the pitch just 55 days after their gut-wrenching loss to Spain in the Euro 2024 final—a defeat that led to Gareth Southgate stepping down as head coach. Now, with Carsley at the helm on an interim basis, fans are eager to see the new-look England squad in action. In his eye-catching first selection, Carsley has handed senior call-ups to Noni Madueke, Morgan Gibbs-White, Tino Livramento, and Angel Gomes, offering a fresh wave of talent. Meanwhile, Harry Maguire and Jack Grealish are back after missing Euro 2024, though Jude Bellingham and Luke Shaw remain unavailable due to injuries. Fans will get to witness Carsley’s England for the very first time on Saturday when they face Republic of Ireland. 

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