Alex Scott withdraws from England with tendon injury after 7-0 win over Croatia
Alex Scott has withdrawn from the England squad after suffering a tendon injury in the 7-0 win over Croatia. Bournemouth are set to assess the midfielder, with initial indications suggesting he could miss several weeks. Thomas Tuchel insists there was no suggestion of injury before Scott played on Saturday.
- Player: Alex Scott, Bournemouth and England midfielder
- Injury: Tendon injury sustained in England's 7-0 win over Croatia
- Expected absence: Several weeks, pending further scans
- Next Bournemouth match: Chelsea away at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, 10 October
- Earlier transfer interest: Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea
Injury and availability
Alex Scott has returned to Bournemouth for further assessment after withdrawing from the England camp with a tendon problem. Initial indications point to a spell of several weeks out, though more scans are planned to establish the full extent of the damage.
Ezri Konsa has also left the England camp and returned to Arsenal. He was ruled out of England's final international game against the Czech Republic on Tuesday after struggling with a slight muscle injury during the break. He played the full 90 minutes against Croatia but will play no further part in the camp and will be assessed by Arsenal.
The key games Scott will miss for Bournemouth
Bournemouth face a demanding run without their midfielder. The matches he is set to miss are:
- October 10: Chelsea (a) — Premier League
- October 15: Sturm Graz (h) — Europa League
- October 18: Sunderland (h) — Premier League, live on Sky Sports
- October 22: AC Milan (h) — Europa League
- October 25: Manchester United (a) — Premier League, live on Sky Sports
- October 28: Aston Villa (h) — Carabao Cup, live on Sky Sports
- October 31: Leeds (h) — Premier League
What was said
"With Alex it's a strange one. I'm very sad about it. He trained in both sessions before the match. He did extra work after the training sessions. We knew he was in treatment but we only got green lights from him and the medics. When we were aware of slight discomfort during the match we asked if he wanted to come off. He said no."
"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. There was no awareness of any risk from our side."
"I feel sad for him. We have an exchange all the time and when he went out, even the day after, he didn't feel injured so in my mind, he started tomorrow."
"The medical and physical department is in constant contact with all the players who are with us. We are sharing information and this is a totally open process."
"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."
"I have not taken any risks, even if it was a big opportunity for him and we wanted him to start. If I had the slightest idea there was a risk, I would not have taken it. I would never do this... It's a one-off."
"Ezri came into camp with discomfort. Played against Spain which made it worse. He stayed in camp and tried everything for the match in Croatia and gave the green light. Unfortunately, he got another hit on the quad and it caused some light trauma. We decided to not let him play again through the pain. Nothing major but not worth taking the risk."
Tuchel's comments paint a picture of a player who passed every check but still broke down. The England manager is adamant the decision to play Scott was made with green lights from the player and the medical staff, and that no risk was apparent.
The quotes also reveal the human side of Scott's week. His grandfather died while he was away with England, yet he chose to stay and play in his honour. Tuchel described the injury as "strange" because it does not match the scan's prediction of time out.
The numbers
- Score: Croatia 0-7 England
- Minutes played: Scott came off in the second half after feeling pain
- Contract: Two years remaining on Scott's Bournemouth deal
- Expected absence: Several weeks, subject to further scans
- Games at risk: Seven fixtures across the Premier League, Europa League and Carabao Cup
Deal details
Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea were interested in signing Scott this summer, according to Sky Sports News. Bournemouth remained adamant he was not for sale and were under no pressure to sell, with two years remaining on his contract. Scott has turned down a new deal at the club amid strong interest from other Premier League sides. No transfer has been agreed, and this injury may complicate any future move.
Why Bournemouth's midfield is now under pressure
The loss of Alex Scott for several weeks is a serious blow for Bournemouth. He had just impressed on his first England start in Rijeka, linking well with Elliot Anderson, with whom he won the U21 Euros in 2025. That partnership hinted at the kind of progressive, high-tempo football Bournemouth have been building around him.
Without Scott, Bournemouth must find a way to replace his energy and link play. The fixture list is unforgiving: a trip to Chelsea on Saturday, then Europa League ties against Sturm Graz and AC Milan, plus Premier League games with Sunderland, Manchester United and Leeds, and a Carabao Cup meeting with Aston Villa. Every one of those matches now becomes a test of squad depth.
For Ezri Konsa and Arsenal, the situation is different but still awkward. Konsa returned to the club after a quad issue that was aggravated by playing against Spain and then Croatia. Arsenal will assess him before their Saturday lunchtime game with Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium. If he is not fit, Mikel Arteta must reshuffle his back line for a match that kicks off at 12.30pm.
Related reading: Alex Scott Injury: Bournemouth Star Risks Six-Week Layoff After England Debut
Talking points
- Tuchel says Scott passed every check, but a tendon injury after 90 minutes raises questions about how international workloads are managed.
- Bournemouth allowed Scott to go to England after he turned down a new contract. Does that make this injury harder to accept for the club?
- With Arsenal, City, United and Chelsea all interested, does a several-week absence hurt Scott's chances of a big move?
- England's medical process will be under scrutiny again after both Scott and Konsa returned to their clubs with problems.
What happens next
Scott will have further scans at Bournemouth to determine the exact length of his absence. Bournemouth travel to Chelsea on Saturday, 10 October, and Tuchel's England face the Czech Republic on Tuesday. Arsenal will assess Konsa before their 12.30pm meeting with Leeds United on Saturday at the Emirates Stadium. The next few days will clarify whether either player faces a short spell out or a longer layoff.
Frequently asked questions
Is Alex Scott out of Bournemouth's game against Chelsea?
Yes. Scott has withdrawn from the England squad with a tendon injury and initial indications suggest he could miss several weeks. Bournemouth play Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, 10 October.
Is Ezri Konsa fit to play for Arsenal against Leeds?
Konsa has returned to Arsenal after being ruled out of England's game with the Czech Republic. He will be assessed on his fitness before Arsenal's 12.30pm match with Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
What did Thomas Tuchel say about Alex Scott's injury?
Tuchel said he was "very sad" and described the injury as "strange" because Scott felt no injury before the scan. He insisted England received green lights from the player and medics, and that no risk was apparent.
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