It was inevitable really, but now it’s been confirmed. Cole Palmer, currently in the midst of a second incredible season in a row, is set to star for England in this next international break and beyond.
That’s according to a story in the Daily Mail, who claim that interim manager Lee Carsley is “understood to be been on providing the 22 year old with a more prominent platform than Gareth Southgate gave him.
With the benefit of hindsight, people are looking back at the Euros this summer and finding it amazing how little Palmer was used. His eventual impact off the bench was especially notable in the final, where he scored England’s equaliser.
Southgate slated for realising what he had too late
To be fair to Southgate, Palmer’s rise was so rapid that there was barely a chance to get him integrated. It was only a year ago that he made his first Premier League start for Chelsea, and from there it took a few months before everyone realised what we had on our hands.
Southgate started using him, included him in the squad and had him as a key option off the bench, but there were enough dilemmas about how to get Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka, Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden in the lineup together – and they all had far more caps and experience playing for this England team than Palmer.
But now a new cycle begins, and whether it’s Carsley or another coach appointed permanently, they are going to build with the Chelsea man as a key piece. He’s so good in the Premier League, and it feels like the slightly less intense and high-pressing world of international football could suit his game even more.
We’ll start to find out next week…
