England Manager Gareth Southgate explains why Cole Palmer did not play during international break

Gareth Southgate, the manager of the English national football team, has affirmed his belief in the potential of Cole Palmer, an emerging forward from Chelsea, despite Palmer’s absence from the recent matches against Brazil and Belgium. This show of faith from Southgate comes at a crucial juncture, as Palmer’s chances of securing a spot in the final squad for Euro 2024 seemed to be diminishing.

Palmer, who has been displaying commendable form as of late, earned his debut for the England team in November and was once again included in the squad by Southgate for the recent friendly matches at Wembley Stadium. However, Palmer was unable to feature against Belgium due to a minor injury sustained prior to the match, which also ruled him out of contention for the Brazil game.

Despite this setback, the performances of other players like Jarrod Bowen and Anthony Gordon in the aforementioned matches have broadened Southgate’s range of options in the attacking department. Nevertheless, Southgate remains keenly interested in Palmer’s progress and contributions to the team.

Palmer’s impressive statistics in the Premier League, where he currently leads in both goals scored and assists with a total of eight, have caught Southgate’s attention. Southgate emphasized the competitive nature of the squad selection process, particularly in the wide areas of the pitch, where Palmer operates.

Although Palmer missed valuable training sessions and was unable to start the match against Belgium due to his injury, Southgate still regards him as a viable contender for a spot in the team. The uncertainty surrounding Palmer’s inclusion contrasts with the more predictable performances expected from players like Anthony Gordon and James Madison.

The abundance of talent among England’s wingers means that established players such as Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish could potentially find themselves omitted from the squad for the Euros this summer. Rashford’s limited playing time against Brazil, where he only featured for 15 minutes as a substitute, and Grealish’s absence from the squad due to injury sustained while playing for Manchester City underscore the fierce competition for places in the team.