Alex Scott faces up to eight weeks out as Bournemouth question England's handling

Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott could miss six to eight weeks with a quadriceps injury sustained during England duty, BBC Sport reported on Monday. The club are unhappy about England's handling of the problem, according to sources cited by the broadcaster. Scott has left the national squad and will not be available for Tuesday's Nations League match against the Czech Republic at Wembley.

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The 23-year-old had felt a thigh problem before England's 7-0 victory over Croatia on Saturday, but started alongside Elliot Anderson in midfield and played 70 minutes. BBC Sport reported that Bournemouth's frustration centres on the fact that England knew he had been experiencing the issue before the match. The projected recovery period remains an estimate, rather than a confirmed return date.

England coach Thomas Tuchel defended the decisions taken by his staff at his Monday news conference. He said Scott had completed training and additional work, with both the player and medical staff indicating he could play despite receiving treatment. According to Tuchel, Scott declined an opportunity to come off after discomfort emerged during the game and subsequently said he had felt capable of completing the full match.

The setback follows Scott's first appearances for the senior national side. He made his debut in England's 2-0 win over the Czech Republic before making his first start four days later against Croatia. Tuchel had praised his contribution after that start, highlighting his use of the ball, decisions in possession, movement and defensive effort in central midfield.

BBC Sport reported that Scott is likely to miss Bournemouth's nine fixtures scheduled between 10 October and 8 November. That stretch combines Premier League matches with Europa League games against Sturm Graz, AC Milan and Sparta Prague, plus a fourth-round Carabao Cup meeting with Aston Villa. The club face four successive weeks with a Wednesday or Thursday fixture alongside their weekend league programme.

Marco Rose's Bournemouth are 17th in the Premier League after three draws and two defeats from their opening five matches. They resume league action at Chelsea on Saturday. Scott joins Eli Junior Kroupi among their unavailable players, with the French forward still sidelined by a foot problem suffered in pre-season. Bournemouth have nevertheless advanced past Lincoln in the EFL Cup and won 2-1 at Real Sociedad on their European debut.