Palmer left out of England squad despite being declared fit

Cole Palmer has been left out of Thomas Tuchel’s latest England squad despite being declared fit and available, leaving the Chelsea forward facing a wait until March to try to force his way back into the national team.

Tuchel said he had decided to stick with players from the previous camp, whose work together had impressed him. “He misses too many opportunities to impress,” the England manager said, adding that the competition for places was open and that Palmer remained in his thoughts.

The omission follows a stop-start spell for Palmer under Tuchel. He has appeared in only three of the manager’s 26 matches in charge and was left out of England’s World Cup squad. Palmer has won 14 caps, scoring twice and providing one assist; his last appearance was a 1-0 defeat by Japan in March.

Tuchel said Palmer had withdrawn from the previous camp because of an injury, after playing through “discomfort and pain”. Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso said Palmer had been struggling in a match before that international break. But England checked Palmer’s fitness before naming the latest squad, and Alonso said the club had given the national team information to help it decide whether the player was fit.

Palmer has started the season well at club level, scoring his 50th Premier League goal for Chelsea in a 2-0 win over Manchester United. That form did not secure him a place, with Tuchel selecting Morgan Gibbs-White, Eberechi Eze and 19-year-old Josh King among his options in attacking midfield. Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers are also alternatives.

Alonso said he had not discussed Palmer’s England omission with him, and praised the forward’s quality, attitude and contribution to Chelsea. Tuchel, meanwhile, said the decision was not personal and that Palmer’s desire to play for England was not in question.

England’s next squad is not due to be named until March 2027. Whether Palmer returns will depend on his fitness and how he fares in a crowded contest for places.