Brief
Alonso says Palmer withdrew from England duty to avoid playing injured
Alonso says Palmer chose to miss England matches to recover fully before returning to Chelsea.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso said on Friday that forward Cole Palmer withdrew from England's Nations League squad because he was "cautious" about a lingering pubalgia injury and did not want to play below his standard.
Alonso added that Palmer has been feeling better this week after three weeks of rest during the international break and is now ready for Chelsea's upcoming match against Bournemouth. He confirmed that Moises Caicedo, Joao Pedro, Reece James and Marco Palestra are also fit.
Alonso noted the risk of Palmer playing while not fully recovered and said the decision to rest was "the right decision" given Palmer's injury history. He also mentioned that Thomas Tuchel had previously highlighted Palmer's limited availability for England camps, having featured in only four of the national team's recent fixtures.
Key facts
- Cole Palmer withdrew from England's Nations League squad because of a lingering pubalgia injury. (standard.co.uk)
- Alonso said Palmer has been resting for three weeks during the international break and is now fit for Chelsea's next game. (standard.co.uk)
- Alonso confirmed that Moises Caicedo, Joao Pedro, Reece James and Marco Palestra are also fit. (standard.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] standard.co.uk — originally reported as “Xabi Alonso explains why Cole Palmer skipped England duty amid Chelsea plan”
