England Lost Cole Palmer And Phil Foden In Two Nations League Matches

Chelsea forward Cole Palmer missed England in the Nations League match. (X/@England)

JAKARTA - Striker Cole Palmer and midfielder Phil Foden are absent from strengthening England who will face two UEFA Nations League matches against Ireland and Finland. Previously, Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham was also out of the squad.

Lee Carsley's current burden of interim manager when he started his duties in charge of the England national team. Carsley, the manager of the U-21 national team, was appointed interim manager only after Gareth Southgate resigned after Euro 2024.

There is no substitute Southgate even though a number of candidates have appeared. The FA also appointed Carsley to handle the senior national team for two matches in League B Group 2 Nations League.

Carsley made his debut when England played an away match against Ireland at the Aviva Stadiion, Friday, September 7, 2024 evening WIB. Furthermore, Britain host Finland at Wembley Stadium, Wednesday, September 11, 2024 in the early hours of Indonesian Western Time (WIB).

Only Carsley already had to lose part of the pillar players who successfully brought the Three Lions to be runners up for Euro 2024. Bellingham was definitely absent due to a calf injury while undergoing training in Madrid.

As a result of his injury, Bellingham had to be sidelined for one month. He has not played Madrid in three Spanish La Liga matches, Real Valladolid, Las Palmas and Real Betis.

Apart from Bellingham, England will not be strengthened by Foden. The Manchester City midfielder has not recovered after defending England in Germany. Foden only played once when Man City won 2-0 over Chelsea in the first Premier League match. The England's best player in 2023/2024 only played 45 minutes.

The pain he suffered made Foden have to rest. Even in the last match when he won 3-1 over host West Ham United, this 24-year-old player was not taken to London. Manager Pep Guardiola only mentioned Foden had the virus in his stomach.

England is also not reinforced by Palmer and Aston Villa striker total rehabilitation. Interestingly, Palmer played for 90 minutes as Chelsea drew 1-1 against Crystal Palace in the last match in the Premier League, last weekend.

But Palmer actually had a hamstring injury while competing in the Conference Europa League against Servette. Despite being played against Palace, he then went through the recovery process.

Meanwhile, Watkins still had time to play when Villa won 2-1 over Leicester City. Only, he was later pulled out and replaced by Jhon Duran.

"He [Palmer] doesn't seem to be in the best condition. I don't know for sure if this is related to his fitness", said Carsley.

Carsley himself will not call players to replace those who miss. This opens up opportunities for debutants Morgan Gibbs-White and Noni Madueke to appear. Carsley brought some of the players from the U-21 national team he handled to enter the senior squad.

Apart from Gibbs-White and Madueke, there are Angel Gomes and Tino Livramento. Those with Palmer who had already entered the senior national team gave England the Euro 2023 U-21 win.

They joined senior Harry Kane, who was a mainstay on the front lines. Meanwhile, defender Harry Maguire, who was absent from Euro 2024 due to injury, was again included in the squad with Jack Grealish.