The attacker is now a global superstar, but fitness issues have prevented him from building on his exploits at Euro 2024
This is not how Cole Palmer's England career was supposed to be unfolding. Following a meteoric rise with Chelsea in 2023-24 and having come up clutch in a big way for his country at the European Championship despite a bit-part role, he was expected to be a key man under new manager Thomas Tuchel one year on.
But things haven't worked out that way. A series of ill-timed fitness issues mean the 23-year-old has earned just three more caps since Euro 2024 and what seemed certain to be a watershed moment for his international career, playing just once under the German tactician. With the 2026 World Cup now just nine months away, time may actually be running out for Palmer to establish himself in Tuchel's plans and ensure he is the main man in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
GettyFalse dawn
Despite his incredible breakthrough season at Chelsea where he provided an outrageous 42 goal contributions in all competitions, Palmer was largely restricted to a watching brief at Euro 2024 in Germany as Sir Gareth Southgate afforded him as few as 145 minutes of action across five games.
In the fleeting moments when he was on the pitch, there is little doubt that Palmer was one of England's most impactful players. In just 10 minutes against the Netherlands in the semi-finals, it was Palmer who played the through-ball that dissected the Dutch defence to find Ollie Watkins, who did the rest with an excellent finish from the angle.
That should really have been enough to guarantee him a bigger involvement in the final, but notoriously pragmatic Southgate stood by the ineffective Phil Foden in attack against Spain, while Kobbie Mainoo formed part of a more conservative midfield three alongside Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham. Inexplicably kept on the bench until the 70th minute with England 1-0 down, Palmer made an instant impact, firing an unstoppable effort into the bottom corner to equalise just three minutes after his introduction.
The Three Lions, of course, would go on to suffer a heart-breaking late defeat, but from an individual perspective it felt as though we were witnessing the dawn of Palmer's superstardom in an England shirt. However, things haven't yet panned out that way.
AdvertisementGettyNew manager, new hope
"It was frustrating at England, to be fair," Palmer admitted in a interview a few months removed from the tournament. "Not to say that the players aren't good. But just coming off the back of the season I had, the form I was in, everything I was doing was coming off… So I'm not playing in the first two games even when the team was struggling, it was a bit like, 'why?' Do you know what I mean?"
Tuchel's appointment as Southgate's successor was supposed to change things. Discussing whether he believed Palmer was the best player in the world in an interview in December, a few months before he began work officially, the German tactician said: "That's a bit too far, going into individual players! But he is definitely on form, I think everyone would agree on that.
"Hopefully he can still grow and keep the level up. Everyone enjoys watching him. He's cool, composed, he's very clinical in finishing and assisting. Very impressive at the moment."
Ironically, those comments more or less coincided with a downturn in Palmer's numbers as he struggled to make the same kind of impact in the second half of 2024-25, despite still being an influential presence for his club.
AFPStop-start
Despite being a near ever-present for Chelsea, Palmer would be forced to withdraw from Tuchel's first England camp in March 2025 due to a hamstring problem, missing the opening World Cup qualifying victories over Albania and Latvia. His absence there meant he had only been involved in one squad since the Euros, having pulled out of both the first and last of the three that interim boss Lee Carsley picked between September and November last year due to minor fitness issues.
The attacker was among a host of players who were unavailable for Carsley's final games in charge, despite playing 90 minutes against Arsenal just before the break, with captain Harry Kane questioning their commitment. "I think it's a tough period of the season, maybe that's been taken advantage of a little bit," the striker said. "I don't really like it if I'm totally honest. I think England comes before anything, any club situation."
Palmer was able to feature in the post-season summer internationals in June, starting the narrow victory over Andorra before watching from the bench as Tuchel's charges suffered an alarming defeat to Senegal. However, when the September camp rolled around he was once again sidelined by a nagging groin issue he picked up at the Club World Cup.
That means that Palmer will have earned just three more caps since Euro 2024 out of a possible 12 one the first pause of the season has passed, playing just once under the new manager. There could be further questions of his commitment if he continues to be an ever-present for Chelsea while sitting out international games.
AFPTuchel the tinkerer
Tuchel has demonstrated across his first two camps at the helm that he is not afraid to make controversial selection calls that will ruffle feathers, evidenced by recalling Jordan Henderson and – most recently – Ruben Loftus-Cheek, pretty much out of nowhere.
Someone like Mason Mount – with whom Tuchel enjoyed a strong bond during his own time at Stamford Bridge – could be next in line for a return if he can return to fitness after a good start to the campaign with Manchester United, and that would pose a direct threat to Palmer's prospects. The manager also has a ruthless streak, and if he has not had a closer look at how Palmer will fit his system by the time the World Cup rolls around, there is no guarantee that the Chelsea talisman will be central to his plans.
Indeed, it has been reported that Tuchel wasn't best pleased to not have the 23-year-old at his disposal for the September break, while the attacker's somewhat less explosive form since the turn of the year may also count against him.
"At the moment, I think that even Cole struggled lately at Chelsea to have an impact," Tuchel said in June. "So, the question would always be: 'Do we then invite them and create an atmosphere that he can still perform here?' It’s difficult to prescribe freedom, to play with freedom and suddenly everyone plays with freedom."
