Thomas Tuchel handed major England injury worry as Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton is forced off in Aston Villa clash

England head coach Tuchel has been handed a huge blow ahead of the upcoming international break as Wharton was forced off the pitch in the 54th minute of Palace's Premier League clash with Villa on Sunday. The midfielder required medical attention as he clutched his groin and was visibly in pain, limping off the pitch. Jefferson Lerma replaced him as Palace cruised to a sensational 3-0 win at Villa Park.

Wharton struggled with injury issues for a considerable portion of the 2024-25 season, making just 20 league appearances. He regained momentum towards the end of last season, starting in Palace's historic FA Cup final win over Manchester City. His emergence as one of the most exciting young midfielders in Europe prompted Tuchel to name him in England's squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers, where the Three Lions will face Andorra and Serbia. Now, Wharton's absence will be a real headache for the former Chelsea and PSG boss, who has only Elliot Anderson, Jordan Henderson and Declan Rice as players who can operate in the middle of the park. Jude Bellingham is recovering from the shoulder surgery he received in July and has been ruled out until November.

Wharton has earned a solitary cap for England at senior level, making his debut in June 2024 against Bosnia and Herzegovina. He was named in the 26-man squad for last summer's European Championship but did not play a single minute.

As things stand, Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones is the candidate most likely to be roped in as Wharton's replacement. Jones has earned six caps for England thus far. Kobbie Mainoo, who is pushing for a move away from Manchester United, could also be on Tuchel's radar.