England's Defensive Blow as Guehi Returns to Palace
Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi has officially withdrawn from the England squad and will play no part in the Three Lions' final 2026 World Cup qualifier against Albania this Sunday. The decision comes after the 25-year-old centre-back failed to recover in time from a painful ankle injury.
Injury Timeline and England Camp Presence
The problem originated during Crystal Palace's Conference League victory over AZ Alkmaar last week. The injury was significant enough to leave Guehi on crutches in the immediate aftermath, forcing him to miss Palace's subsequent goalless Premier League draw with Brighton.
Despite the setback, England manager Thomas Tuchel wanted the influential defender to remain with the squad at their Tottenham Hotspur training base. Guehi is considered a key leader within the team setup, and his presence was valued. He was absent for England's 2-0 win over Serbia on Thursday, but there was initial hope he could be available for the Albania fixture. However, after being unable to participate in training, the decision was made for him to return to his club.
A team statement released on Friday confirmed: 'Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi has left the England camp and will not travel to Albania for Sunday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier. The defender joined up with the Three Lions at Tottenham Hotspur’s training ground earlier this week but has returned to his club to continue his rehabilitation.'
Implications for Club and Country
While he is no longer reliant on crutches, Guehi's inability to train spells concerning news for Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner. The Eagles are about to embark on a demanding winter schedule, starting with a trip to Wolves on November 22. Guehi is a cornerstone of a Palace defence that, this season, has been statistically outperformed only by Arsenal and Manchester City in the top flight.
Providing a glimmer of hope, Tuchel had previously downplayed the long-term severity of the issue before the Serbia match, stating: 'Very painful, but there is no damage done. No structural damage. It’s all about the pain.'
With Guehi unavailable, Tuchel will prepare for the trip to Tirana with a squad of 24 players. John Stones and Ezri Konsa started the central defensive partnership against Serbia, with Trevoh Chalobah and Jarell Quansah providing further cover in that position.
All eyes will now be on Oliver Glasner's press conference ahead of the Wolves match for a clearer update on his captain's fitness and a potential return date.
