Alex Scott has withdrawn from England’s squad with a tendon injury that could keep the Bournemouth midfielder out for several weeks, according to Sky Sports. Scott picked up the issue during England’s 7-0 win over Croatia on Saturday and is set to return to Bournemouth for further assessment.
Scott made his first England start in that rout in Rijeka, playing all 90 minutes before the problem surfaced. The BBC reported, via the Associated Press, that Scott’s injury is to the thigh and he could be sidelined for up to eight weeks, a different characterization than Sky Sports‘ tendon injury report. England did not officially give a reason for his withdrawal from the squad ahead of Tuesday’s Nations League return match against the Czech Republic.
What England and Tuchel said
England coach Thomas Tuchel addressed the injury in his pre-Czech Republic press conference and said there was no warning sign before Scott played. “With Alex it’s a strange one. I’m very sad about it.
Scott trained in both sessions before the match. He did extra work after the training sessions,” Tuchel said, according to Sky Sports. “Afterwards he said it was the right decision but he could’ve played the full 90.
He didn’t feel an injury. Even on the plane here before we did the scan. It is a strange one because it does not match the objectivity of the scan and the prediction of the time he is going to miss.”
Tuchel also addressed reports that Bournemouth are unhappy their player returned from international duty injured. “I can totally understand that Bournemouth are not happy and sad because they lose a key player, but I can say from the moment we took the decision to let him play, there was absolutely no risk whatsoever apparent to me or our physical staff that we have risk of an injury,” he said, per Sky Sports. Scott’s withdrawal is one of several England has dealt with this camp, following exits by Tino Livramento, Kobbie Mainoo, Cole Palmer, Marcus Rashford, Declan Rice and Nico O’Reilly, with Ezri Konsa also leaving the squad Monday. Tuchel has not called up any replacements.
Who replaces Alex Scott at Bournemouth
Bournemouth have not announced a direct replacement, and no lineup decision has been confirmed for the club’s next match. The timing is awkward: Bournemouth travel to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Oct. 10 in their first game after the international break, and Scott’s status for that match and beyond is unclear given the projected multi-week absence described by Sky Sports.
Season context
Scott impressed on his first England start, pairing effectively with Elliot Anderson, a teammate with whom he won the U21 Euros in 2025, according to Sky Sports. His form made him one of the Premier League‘s most sought-after midfielders over the summer, with Sky Sports News reporting that Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea all had interest in signing him. Bournemouth refused to sell, and Scott has since turned down a new contract at the club despite having two years remaining on his current deal, per Sky Sports.
Scott also dealt with personal loss during this international camp. His grandfather died while he was away with England, but he chose to stay and play in Rijeka in honor of a man he was close to, Sky Sports reported.
What’s next
England closes out this international break against the Czech Republic on Tuesday without Scott or Konsa available. Bournemouth’s next fixture is the trip to Chelsea on Oct. 10, and further clarity on Scott’s timeline is expected once Bournemouth completes its own assessment of the injury.
Reporting from FOX Sports and Sky Sports contributed to this story
