Alex Scott has withdrawn from the England squad with a quadriceps injury and is expected to miss the Nations League meeting with Czechia at Wembley, according to BBC Sport.
The Bournemouth midfielder, 23, had made his first senior England start in Saturday’s 7-0 victory over Croatia. BBC Sport reported that he played 70 minutes in central midfield alongside Elliot Anderson despite feeling the problem before the match, before being substituted.
Scott is expected to be unavailable for between six and eight weeks with the thigh issue, BBC Sport said. England confirmed that Arsenal defender Ezri Konsa has also been ruled out of the Czechia fixture and will return to his club for treatment. The Independent reported that neither player would be replaced in Thomas Tuchel’s group.
The withdrawals leave Tuchel with a reduced squad for the final fixture of the international window. They also interrupt a particularly promising spell for Scott, who made his England debut in the 2-0 win over Czechia in Prague before retaining his place for the Croatia match.
Scott’s first start earns Tuchel’s praise
Tuchel had spoken warmly about Scott’s display in Rijeka, where England scored seven against Croatia. The England head coach said the midfielder had produced an outstanding first start and assessed his work on the ball, decision-making, mobility and work rate very positively.
According to BBC Sport, Tuchel regarded Scott as a player who brought movement and variety to the centre of England’s midfield. The coach’s assessment gave added weight to the performance because Scott had only just made his senior debut against Czechia.
The Independent reported that Tuchel also viewed Scott as a credible option in a competitive midfield group. In that assessment, the England manager emphasised the need for depth and different profiles in central areas rather than reliance on a small number of players.
Scott’s absence means he will not have the chance to build immediately on that display when England face Czechia again at Wembley. It also removes a midfielder who had shown he could operate alongside Anderson in the reshaped side that started against Croatia.
Konsa’s withdrawal adds a second enforced change. The 28-year-old started against Croatia as well, according to the Independent, and England have not called up additional players after the pair returned to their respective clubs for further assessment or treatment.
Bournemouth face a demanding run
The projected six-to-eight-week absence would create a substantial issue for Bournemouth if the timeframe reported by BBC Sport is confirmed by the club’s subsequent assessment. Bournemouth are scheduled to play nine times between 10 October and 8 November, encompassing Premier League, Europa League and Carabao Cup commitments.
BBC Sport reported that Bournemouth are due to play midweek fixtures in four consecutive weeks. Their Europa League schedule includes matches against Sturm Graz, AC Milan and Sparta Prague, while Aston Villa are listed as their Carabao Cup fourth-round opponents.
In the league, Bournemouth are 17th after five matches, having drawn three and lost two, BBC Sport reported. Their next Premier League match is away to Chelsea, followed by games against Sunderland, Manchester United, Leeds and Ipswich before the November international break.
That sequence explains why the expected recovery period is important beyond England. Scott has just received a significant international opportunity, but Bournemouth could now be without him through a stretch in which their domestic and European programme becomes more compressed.
For England, the immediate task is to prepare without both Scott and Konsa. The squad had already experienced several withdrawals during the international window, the Independent reported, with Morgan Gibbs-White and James Garner among those called up earlier in the camp. Tuchel must now complete preparations for Czechia with the players remaining available.
Scott’s performance against Croatia nevertheless gives England a recent indication of what he can offer when fit. The next question is how quickly Bournemouth’s assessment allows him to return to club football, and whether he can resume his England progress in time for the following international window.