Cole Palmer injury: Thomas Tuchel provides update on Chelsea & England star

England manager Thomas Tuchel has confirmed Chelsea's Cole Palmer will play no part for his country during the international break.

Palmer had been battling illness before being left out of Chelsea's final Premier League fixture before the break – a 1-0 defeat at London rivals Arsenal – because of a muscle injury which Blues boss Enzo Maresca soon admitted would likely keep the 22-year-old out of England duty.

Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White was called up to take Palmer's spot before it was confirmed the latter would remain with Chelsea for further treatment.

"Cole will not be with us," Tuchel told the media ahead of Friday's World Cup qualifier against Albania. "He was not on the pitch with Chelsea.

"We've waited quite a while now for feedback and for the chance, maybe, to call him up. But he's not on the pitch and not available. It makes no sense to call him up now. We stay with this group that we have. Everybody is in training today, all 26 players, so it gives us the full choice."

The Guardian report that Palmer was sent for a second scan on his injury, with Chelsea keen to be completely certain of the problem at hand before drafting up a potential recovery plan for the influential midfielder.

There is confidence that Palmer has not suffered a serious injury and Blues supporters are now hopeful of seeing their top scorer, who scored for England in the Euro 2024 final against Spain, return to action after the international break, when Tottenham Hotspur make the trip to Stamford Bridge on April 3.

Palmer has endured a dry spell in front of goal which many have attributed to the wider injury issues facing Chelsea. Striker Nicolas Jackson and winger Noni Madueke - second and third on the Blues' scoring charts - have both missed lengthy spells with injuries but are both due back after the international break.

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