Morgan Gibbs-White is a candidate for a recall to the England squad following Cole Palmer's withdrawal due to a minor injury. The Nottingham Forest midfielder, who was not included in the initial squad for the upcoming matches in the Nations League, is now expected to be called up.
England manager Thomas Tuchel admitted on Friday that Gibbs-White was close to being included in the starting lineup. The 26-year-old is set to replace 24-year-old Palmer.
Palmer had been recalled to the squad after being controversially omitted from the England team for the World Cup. Tuch had previously stated that Palmer had 'something to prove' and that he needed to 'step up' to 'retain his place and justify the nomination'. He will now miss the international break, during which England play four matches.
England play Spain, the world champions, on Saturday, 26 September, at Wembley. Three days later, on 29 September, they travel to the Czech Republic, with the match on 3 October taking place in Croatia. The home fixture against the Czechs is on 6 October.
Palmer's withdrawal follows his appearance in full for Chelsea in Friday's 3-0 defeat to Brentford. After a summer without playing, Palmer had started six of Chelsea's seven matches, playing the full 90 minutes in five of them. He has scored four goals and provided two assists.
Palmer's last appearance for England was in March, in a 1-0 defeat to Japan. During the 2025-26 season, he has been managed carefully due to a recurring groin injury.
