England’s preparations for their upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Ireland and Finland have been dealt a blow with the absence of key players Cole Palmer, Ollie Watkins, and Phil Foden.
Palmer and Watkins have been ruled out due to ongoing injuries and have returned to their clubs to continue rehabilitation. Foden, on the other hand, did not report to the England training camp due to illness and will also miss the matches.
These absences are a significant setback for England, who are looking to make a strong start under interim manager Lee Carsley. Carsley has taken over the reins following the departure of Gareth Southgate after the European Championship. The team is eager to bounce back after being relegated from the top-tier Nations League group in 2022.
England’s first match is against Ireland in Dublin on Saturday, followed by a home fixture against Finland at Wembley Stadium three days later. The match against Ireland will be the first competitive encounter between the two nations since 1991.
The Football Association has confirmed that there are no plans to replace the injured or ill players with other players. England will be looking to field a competitive side despite the absences of these key players.
