Morgan Gibbs-White to Join England Squad, Replacing Injured Cole Palmer
Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White is expected to return to the England squad as a replacement for Cole Palmer, who is withdrawing due to a minor injury. Palmer's injury comes ahead of a busy Nations League schedule for England.
Squad Changes Ahead of Nations League
Gibbs-White was initially left out of the squad for the upcoming Nations League fixtures but is now likely to be called up. England manager Thomas Tuchel had indicated that Gibbs-White was close to selection. The 26-year-old midfielder is set to take over Palmer’s spot after the Chelsea forward withdrew.
Palmer, 24, had been brought back into the fold by Tuchel after missing out on England’s World Cup squad, a decision that sparked some debate. Tuchel had stated that Palmer needed to prove himself to keep his place and justify the recall.
England's Upcoming Fixtures
- 26 September: England vs. Spain at Wembley
- 29 September: England travels to Czech Republic
- 3 October: England faces Croatia away
- 6 October: England hosts Czech Republic
Palmer’s Injury and Recent Form
Palmer played the full match during Chelsea's 3-0 loss at Brentford on Friday but will miss the international break. After a summer off following World Cup omission, he has started six of Chelsea’s seven games this season, completing 90 minutes in five, with four goals and two assists.
His progress has been hampered by a recurring groin issue during the 2025-26 season. Former Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca, now managing Manchester City, questioned the logic behind the ongoing problem.
International Appearances
- Cole Palmer: Last played for England in March during a 1-0 friendly defeat to Japan.
- Morgan Gibbs-White: Most recent appearance was in October 2025, contributing to a 3-0 friendly win over Wales.
This season, Gibbs-White has recorded one goal and two assists across five league matches for Nottingham Forest, showing promising form ahead of his recall.
