Why Jude Bellingham, Cole Palmer and Bukayo Saka aren’t playing for England against Serbia tonight

England face Serbia in a World Cup qualifier tonight with key trio Jude Bellingham, Cole Palmer and Bukayo Saka not in Thomas Tuchel’s squad.

England will be without Real Madrid superstar Bellingham, Chelsea attacking midfielder Palmer and Arsenal winger Saka for the clash in Belgrade.

The reason why Bellingham, Palmer and Saka aren’t playing for England is because all three players are ruled out with injury.

Bellingham had surgery in July 2025 to address a recurring left shoulder dislocation that began in November 2023.

The 22-year-old is yet to feature for Real Madrid this season although reports in Spain have indicated that his recovery is going well and he could be set to make a return in late September.

Palmer, meanwhile, suffered a groin injury in the warm-up ahead of Chelsea’s 5-1 victory over West Ham.

The 23-year-old posted on Instagram last week that he would be ‘back soon’ after missing the 2-0 win against Fulham.

Saka also won’t be playing for England tonight with the 24-year-old struggling with a hamstring problem.

The injury ruled Saka out of Arsenal’s last match – a 1-0 defeat to Premier League title rivals Liverpool at Anfield.

Saka has made 44 appearances for England to date, conjuring up 12 goals and eight assists.

Bellingham has played the same amount of games for England as Saka, 44, registering six goals and 10 assists.

Palmer has 12 caps for England and scored in the Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain last year.

The absence of Bellingham, Palmer and Saka means England head coach Tuchel is able to hand opportunities to other players in his squad.

England reached the quarter-finals at the last World Cup in 2022, losing in the quarter-finals to France under the management of Gareth Southgate.

The England men’s team are still waiting to land their first trophy since 1966 after runner-up finishes at Euro 2020 and Euro 2024.