Cole Palmer and Phil Foden headline the notable omissions from Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Croatia and Spain.
Palmer’s absence is particularly surprising given his strong start to the season with Chelsea, where he has registered eight goal involvements in 11 appearances across all competitions.
The 24-year-old has regained his form after an injury-disrupted 2025/26 campaign but has failed to convince Tuchel that he deserves a place in the squad.
Palmer was recalled for the September international break after missing England’s 2026 FIFA World Cup squad but withdrew due to a fitness problem.
His withdrawal frustrated Tuchel, who publicly criticised the forward for missing another opportunity to impress.
“It’s another missed opportunity. He misses too many opportunities,” Tuchel said at the time.
The latest omission means Palmer must wait longer to add to his three appearances under Tuchel. He has featured in only two of the German’s eight England camps.
Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden is another notable absentee despite showing signs of returning to his best form at club level.
The 26-year-old has said he wants to return to the England setup after missing the World Cup squad and has already scored a Champions League hat-trick this season. However, Tuchel has opted against recalling him.
Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka and Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford also miss out, with fitness concerns influencing their absences.
Morgan Gibbs-White, however, has been included and will have another opportunity to strengthen his position in England’s attacking midfield options.
Jude Bellingham, Eberechi Eze, Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson and Harry Kane are also named in the squad, while Liverpool youngster Rio Ngumoha retains his place.
England will host Croatia at Wembley on November 12 before travelling to Madrid to face Spain on November 15. The Three Lions are looking to secure qualification for the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals, with the two matches marking their final international assignments of 2026.
