England suffer triple blow as Palmer, Watkins, and Foden ruled out of Nations League fixtures

LONDON: England’s preparations for their upcoming Nations League matches have been dealt a significant blow with the withdrawals of Cole Palmer, Ollie Watkins, and Phil Foden. The Football Association confirmed on Tuesday that all three players will miss the fixtures due to various health issues.

Palmer and Watkins, who were both assessed after reporting to St George’s Park, have returned to their clubs for further rehabilitation. Palmer, who has been dealing with an ongoing issue, will continue his recovery under the supervision of his club’s medical team. Similarly, Watkins, who has also been struggling with fitness concerns, will work on regaining full health with his club.

Meanwhile, Foden, who was included in the squad by interim England manager Lee Carsley, did not report to camp due to illness. The 24-year-old Manchester City star has been ruled out of the upcoming games against Ireland and Finland.

England will travel to Dublin to face Ireland on September 7, followed by a home match against Finland at Wembley on September 10. The absence of these key players will be a challenge for Carsley as he looks to maintain England’s strong form in the Nations League.