Cole Palmer: A must pick or unreliable? Thomas Tuchel’s dilemma over Chelsea star
Palmer missed Tuchel’s first camp with a hamstring injury in March 2025, but went on to play 90 minutes in Chelsea‘s first Premier League match after that international break.
He then featured in the June fixtures, playing in a 1-0 win away to Andorra before being an unused substitute in a friendly defeat by Senegal.
During the September, October and November international breaks that followed, Palmer was managing a recurring groin problem, which severely limited his club appearances during the early part of last season.
He last featured for England in March, coming on as a substitute in the 56th minute of a 1-1 draw with Uruguay before starting against Japan, where he lasted only 59 minutes in a 1-0 home defeat.
Palmer then withdrew from the most recent international break, with Gibbs-White replacing him, after saying he had played for Chelsea with “discomfort and pain” before the call-up.
Boss Xabi Alonso has since said the attacker was “struggling” in the 3-0 loss by Brentford before the international break.
Palmer then went on an overseas holiday during a nine-day break for Chelsea‘s non-international players.
He took a rehabilitation coach with him and underwent an injury-specific training plan to recover.
Returning to training with Chelsea after the period of rest, Palmer signed a new contract until 2034 at Stamford Bridge.
He then played 88 minutes and provided an assist in a 5-1 victory over Bournemouth.
He has since started all of Chelsea‘s subsequent matches, apart from their EFL Cup penalty shootout defeat by Liverpool last week when he was ruled out by suspension. This followed his dismissal after receiving two yellow cards in the space of nine minutes during the home league defeat by Tottenham just over a week earlier.
Saturday’s 2-0 win over Manchester United was his last appearance before Tuchel picks his squad on Friday, with his penalty taking his tally to five goals and three assists in 11 matches.
Chelsea manager Alonso, said of Palmer’s absences from England duty: “He’s committed but he needs to be fully fit to play and when he’s fully fit he will enjoy his minutes.
“We need him in that moment, [both] the club and the national team.”
Tuchel has, however, expressed frustration over the player and said he “misses too many opportunities” to play for England.
If Palmer is not selected, his lack of availability will likely be a major factor in the decision.
