Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, and Ollie Watkins have withdrawn from England's squad for the upcoming Nations League matches against the Republic of Ireland and Finland. Initially selected by interim manager Lee Carsley for the latest Three Lions lineup, all three players have returned to their respective clubs and will be unavailable for selection.
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Foden is sidelined due to illness, having already missed Manchester City's Premier League fixtures against Ipswich and West Ham. Meanwhile, Palmer and Watkins are dealing with "ongoing issues," as reported by the FA. Both featured in their recent matches for Chelsea and Aston Villa last weekend.
The absence of this trio leaves questions about who Carsley will choose as replacements, though his first squad as interim manager includes several fresh faces. Angel Gomes, Tino Livramento, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Noni Madueke have all received call-ups, while Jack Grealish and Harry Maguire make their return to the national team.
Appointed last month following Gareth Southgate's departure after Euro 2024, Carsley faces the expectation of a victorious start to his tenure. England is set to travel to Dublin for a highly anticipated clash against Ireland. Subsequently, a home game against Finland will provide fans with the first glimpse of Carsley's revamped England side in action.
However, the team will be without key players in Watkins, Palmer, and Foden. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola offered an update on Foden's condition before the announcement of his unavailability for England. "He doesn't feel well; otherwise, he would be here," Guardiola stated. "But national teams decide. He doesn't feel good with his stomach and has a little virus, but people say with antibiotics and so on, he will be fine."
The exact nature of Watkins' and Palmer's injuries remains unclear, but indications suggest they have withdrawn from the squad as a precautionary measure.
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