A tough blow for the rising star
Alex Scott is looking at up to two months on the sidelines after picking up a thigh injury while on duty with England. Real talk: the Bournemouth midfielder absolutely ate during his full debut in the 7-0 blowout against Croatia this past Saturday. He was dealing with discomfort before the match even started, but he played through the pain to secure his moment. It’s giving major dedication, but unfortunately, the injury got worse, and now he’s officially withdrawn from the squad.
The ripple effect
Scott was in the mix to start again for England’s upcoming Nations League match against Czechia this Tuesday. His performance in Rijeka alongside Elliot Anderson really turned heads, and his level of play was highkey impressive. Thomas Tuchel confirmed Scott will miss the rest of the international break and the upcoming November clashes against Croatia and Spain.
It’s been a heavy time for Scott, who chose to stay with the team following the death of his grandfather. With Declan Rice and Kobbie Mainoo also out of the camp, Tuchel is calling up James Garner and Myles Lewis-Skelly to fill the gaps. He might also look at sliding Morgan Rogers or Jude Bellingham into a deeper role.
Why it matters
Tuchel is high on Scott’s potential, noting the 23-year-old—who is reportedly a key target for Chelsea—adds much-needed variety to the midfield. While Declan Rice remains a superstar, Tuchel is making it clear that competition is the vibe right now. "We need more, more, more, more variety," Tuchel said. "Alex was in the highest level." On top of the midfield shuffle, Arsenal’s Ezri Konsa has also withdrawn from the squad due to injury, leaving the defensive lineup in flux for the next stage of the Nations League.
