Tuchel hits out at Cole Palmer over repeated England withdrawals with Chelsea star's international future in doubt

From the Newshound archive · first published 26 September 2026 · last updated 27 September 2026.

England boss Thomas Tuchel refused to hide his frustration after Cole Palmer pulled out of the Three Lions squad for the Nations League, saying 'it's hard to argue' with suggestions the Chelsea forward does not want to play international football. Palmer, 24, has now withdrawn from an England call-up four times, and Tuchel pointedly noted that Morgan Gibbs-White cut short a Dubai holiday within a day to replace him. Roy Keane has since piled in, adding his voice to the growing chorus of criticism directed at the Chelsea star.

Tuchel was particularly cutting because Palmer had completed all 90 minutes of Chelsea's last four Premier League games — making the muscular injury claim harder to accept.

'If you are not in camp, there is a next level you cannot achieve,' Tuchel warned, making clear Palmer's England future is now genuinely at risk.

Palmer missed the summer World Cup squad too, yet Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso insists the forward has been exceptional all pre-season and 'there's more to come'.