Tuchel Forced into Reshuffle as Five England Stars Withdraw Ahead of Nations League

Thomas Tuchel has had to rework his England squad ahead of the upcoming Nations League fixtures after five high-profile players withdrew from the camp, opening the door for two uncapped midfielders to press their case at international level.

Chelsea's Cole Palmer, Arsenal's Declan Rice, Manchester United pair Kobbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford, and Newcastle defender Tino Livramento have all been ruled out, leaving Tuchel with several gaps to fill in his squad.

In response, the England boss has called up Everton midfielder James Garner and Nottingham Forest captain Morgan Gibbs-White, with both players due to link up with the rest of the squad on Tuesday. While losing established names like Rice and Palmer is a setback, it gives Garner and Gibbs-White a genuine chance to make an impression as England prepare to face strong opposition in their Nations League A group.

For Gibbs-White, it's a quick return to the fold after just missing out on Tuchel's original 27-man squad. The 26-year-old, who already has six caps to his name, was reportedly close to being included from the start, with Tuchel pointing to his consistent Premier League form as the reason for bringing him in now.

Garner also returns to the senior setup having previously featured for England earlier this year. He made his first two senior appearances back in March but, like Gibbs-White, missed out on selection for the 2026 World Cup.

Palmer's withdrawal is perhaps the most surprising of the five, coming not long after he had only just been welcomed back into the squad following his World Cup omission. The Chelsea forward, who recently featured in a heavy defeat to Brentford, is said to be stepping back due to load management and a minor injury concern, with club and country reportedly agreeing it was best to protect him from aggravating the issue further.

Manchester United's injury problems have also had a direct impact on Tuchel's options. Both Mainoo and Rashford were forced off during United's 1-1 draw with Fulham, with Mainoo lasting 80 minutes before being replaced and Rashford also exiting through a physical issue.

The timing couldn't be much worse given what's coming up. England open their Nations League campaign against World Cup winners Spain on 26 September, before a double-header against the Czech Republic and a tough away trip to Croatia.