Competitions · europe

England and Scotland Adjust Squads Following High-Profile Nations League Withdrawals

Multiple Premier League players pull out of international duty as England, Scotland and Northern Ireland finalise setups for upcoming Nations League fixtures.

ReportedNews·2026-09-22·3 min

Written by GFR African Desk · AR001070

As domestic football pauses five matches into the Premier League season for an international break, several British national teams are adjusting their squads ahead of upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures. Reports from BBC Sport highlight notable player withdrawals and call-ups for England and Scotland alongside preparations for Northern Ireland.

England have experienced multiple roster adjustments after five players withdrew from consideration for their upcoming Nations League matches. According to BBC Sport, Tino Livramento, Kobbie Mainoo, Cole Palmer, Marcus Rashford and Declan Rice have all pulled out of the national team setup.

Squad Changes for Scotland

Scotland have also altered their roster ahead of their Nations League campaign. Midfielder Kristi Montgomery of Blackburn Rovers has received his first senior call-up. His inclusion comes as Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean drop out of the squad due to reported fitness issues.

The upcoming match against Slovenia on Saturday marks the first test for Sebastien Pocognoli as head coach of Scotland. The team's roster setup remains under focus as they prepare for his managerial debut.

Northern Ireland Return to Nations League B

Northern Ireland are preparing for their return to UEFA Nations League B. Manager Michael O'Neill indicated that their opposition features Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, whom he described indirectly as one of the top players in the world. Northern Ireland enter the campaign without their team captain.

Sources

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