Cole Palmer has been left out of England’s squad again. Thomas Tuchel named 25 players for the Nations League games against Croatia and Spain on 6 November, and the Chelsea attacker was not among them even though Sports Mole described him as fully fit.
Cole Palmer England squad omission: the key facts
- Palmer has 14 senior caps, eight of them as a substitute, according to SoccerNews.
- His last England appearance was a 1-0 friendly defeat to Japan in March.
- He was also left out of Tuchel’s World Cup group and the first four Nations League games of 2026-27.
- Jobe Bellingham and Josh King earned first senior call-ups.
- Phil Foden was again omitted.
What did Tuchel say about Palmer?
Tuchel’s explanation was blunt but, by his account, not personal. SoccerNews reported that he said Palmer “misses too many chances to impress,” and that players who were in the previous camp earned their places by performing well. In other words, form and competition decide it, not reputation.
Sports Mole noted that Palmer withdrew from the September and October selection with an injury, which means he has had fewer chances to make a case in recent camps. That is context, not an excuse the coach offered himself.
It is worth saying plainly what we do not know. Neither report quotes Tuchel giving a detailed tactical reason, so any claim about system or role is speculation.
Who is in the squad instead?
The 25-man group, per Sports Mole, includes goalkeepers Jordan Pickford, Jason Steele and James Trafford, and a defence of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jarrad Branthwaite, Marc Guehi, Lewis Hall, Ezri Konsa, Jarell Quansah, Djed Spence and Ben White. The midfield is Elliot Anderson, Jobe Bellingham, Jude Bellingham, James Garner, Josh King, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Declan Rice. Up front are Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Eberechi Eze, Morgan Gibbs-White, Anthony Gordon, Harry Kane, Rio Ngumoha and Morgan Rogers.
Several of the other absentees tell their own story. Kobbie Mainoo, Marcus Rashford and Noni Madueke were left out too, along with Foden.
Why did Jobe Bellingham and Josh King get called up?
Jobe Bellingham, 21, comes up from the Under-21s after setting up three goals in 14 games for Borussia Dortmund. He joins his older brother Jude in the senior squad.
Josh King, 19, of Fulham, was rewarded for two goals and one assist in his first nine Premier League games. Those are modest numbers in isolation, but they came in his first run in the top flight, and Sky Sports has linked him with a debut.
The other recalls are practical. Ben White returns for the first time since March, replacing the injured Trevoh Chalobah, and Djed Spence is back after injury.
What it means for Palmer’s England future
Palmer’s absence does not mean the door is closed, but it does mean his route back runs through club form. He is competing with Eze, Gibbs-White, Rogers and Gordon for the same places, and all four of those are in the current squad.
Tuchel’s wider approach, according to The Irish News headline, is about fresh energy, and the squad skews younger than it has in some time. If that continues, the Euro 2028 cycle may belong to players who are in the building now.
The squad in action: England beat Croatia 2-1 on Thursday and face Spain away on Sunday 15 November. Read our report on the Croatia match for the full story, and see our earlier Cole Palmer profile for background on his rise.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cole Palmer injured? Sports Mole described him as fully fit for this squad, though he had withdrawn from the September and October selection.
How many England caps does Palmer have? 14, according to SoccerNews, eight of them as a substitute.
More stories about players and squads are in our Player News section.
Sources: Sports Mole (6 November 2026), SoccerNews (6 November 2026), Sky Sports (11 November 2026), The Irish News headline (November 2026).
