Cole Palmer withdraws from England squad with muscle injury

England's injury list keeps growing, and this time it's claimed one of the names fans had been most excited about. Cole Palmer will withdraw from the squad ahead of the Nations League matches, according to sources consulted by ESPN, and his exit has also raised alarm bells over the physical condition of three other players.

The Chelsea midfielder arrived at this international window in fine form. Left out of the World Cup squad, this window looked like the perfect chance to make his case to Thomas Tuchel ahead of matches against Spain, Croatia and a double header against Czech Republic, both home and away. Palmer had started the season at an extremely high level with his club, but a mild muscle injury will force him to wait before pulling on the Three Lions jersey again. Morgan Gibbs-White will take his spot in the squad.

But Palmer isn't the only headache for the England coaching staff. There are also serious doubts over Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo and Tino Livramento. The first two started for Manchester United in their 1-1 draw with Fulham, though neither finished the match on the pitch: Rashford was substituted in the 77th minute and Mainoo followed shortly after, in the 80th minute. It remains to be seen whether those substitutions were simple squad management or something more concerning for England.

Livramento's case carries a different wrinkle, and plenty of bad luck to go with it. The full back had been called up for the World Cup but was cut right before the tournament. So far this season he's managed only two appearances as a substitute with Newcastle, and on Friday he picked up an injury in training.

He had some discomfort this morning after yesterday's training session. We should already have the MRI results by now, but I don't have anything more from my end.Matthias Jaissle

Those comments from the Newcastle manager, made after Saturday's match, make clear that there's still no firm diagnosis on the severity of Livramento's issue.

The situation for Tuchel could hardly get more complicated at a moment when England faces four matches in 11 days. The German coach was already heading into this window without Ben White, Dan Burn, Dean Henderson, Reece James, John Stones and Djed Spence, all sidelined with injuries. With Palmer out and the doubts over Rashford, Mainoo and Livramento still unresolved, the list of absences threatens to keep growing in the hours ahead.