Gareth Southgate Laments Cole Palmer’s Absence in England Friendlies
The recent England friendlies against Brazil and Belgium saw the absence of Chelsea’s rising star, Cole Palmer. Despite being part of The Three Lions squad, Palmer did not play a single minute in either match. The decision to leave him out was due to his lack of training, as he had missed some of the team’s training sessions.
Fans were expecting Palmer, who has been in excellent form for Chelsea this season, to feature in at least one of the matches. However, Southgate chose not to play him because of his limited training time. When asked about the absence of Marcus Rashford, Southgate explained that he wanted to give Anthony Gordon another chance to shine. He also believed that James Maddison and Jarrod Bowen could make an impact on the game.
Southgate expressed his disappointment that Palmer missed out on the opportunity to play against Belgium due to his lack of training. However, he did not rule out Palmer’s future inclusion in the squad. The young midfielder has been a standout performer for Chelsea this season, scoring 16 goals and providing 12 assists in 37 appearances across all competitions.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino has praised Palmer’s talent and versatility on the field. He described him as a player with an amazing talent who understands the game well. Pochettino highlighted Palmer’s ability to play in different positions and contribute to the team’s pressing and ball recovery. Despite his young age, Palmer has been performing exceptionally for Chelsea.
Palmer returned to training at Chelsea’s Cobham training ground on Wednesday and is expected to be in the starting XI for their upcoming match against Burnley. This will be an opportunity for him to further showcase his skills and continue his impressive season.
In conclusion, Gareth Southgate’s decision to leave Cole Palmer out of the recent England friendlies was due to his lack of training. Despite being in excellent form for Chelsea, Palmer’s absence from some training sessions led to him not featuring in the matches against Brazil and Belgium. However, Southgate did not rule out Palmer’s future inclusion in the squad. The young midfielder has been a shining light in Chelsea’s otherwise disappointing season and has garnered praise from his manager, Mauricio Pochettino. Palmer’s upcoming match against Burnley will be another chance for him to prove his worth and continue his impressive performances.