Morgan Gibbs-White replaces Cole Palmer in England squad as injuries affect selection

Cole Palmer is set to withdraw from England duty as Chelsea aims to manage their playmaker during the three-week international break, with Morgan Gibbs-White called up in his place. Nottingham Forest's Gibbs-White, 26, was on holiday in Dubai after playing in a match against Coventry on Saturday but is returning to join the national team. Chelsea sources informed Daily Mail Sport that Palmer, 24, has a muscular injury that the club wants to monitor. An official announcement from the England team is pending, with players expected to report to St George's Park on Monday afternoon. England is scheduled to face Spain, Czechia, and Croatia during the break. Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel is set to speak on Friday regarding Palmer's situation. Tuchel did not select Palmer for the World Cup due to his previous season's performance, stating that the player needs to prove himself. Gibbs-White, who was also omitted from the World Cup squad, has been called up due to his strong form and the withdrawal of other players. Reports indicate that Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo may also withdraw from the squad due to injuries. Palmer has started every Premier League match this season, contributing two goals and two assists. Other Chelsea players, including Joao Pedro and Moises Caicedo, have also withdrawn from international duty due to injuries. Tuchel emphasized the need for players to perform at the international level, stating that being nominated is not enough. Palmer has had a challenging season previously, dealing with thigh and hamstring injuries. Gibbs-White's inclusion comes after Tuchel noted the difficulty in selecting multiple attacking midfielders. Rashford has been managing a hip issue since the World Cup, while Mainoo is also expected to withdraw due to injury concerns.