Thomas Tuchel should heed the lesson from Gareth Southgate's underuse of Cole Palmer as he embarks on his mission to steer England to glory. The German tactician, who was announced as Southgate's replacement in October, will assume his role after the new year begins, with interim manager Lee Carsley maintaining the team's momentum in the meantime.
While many supporters are eager to see what the ex-Chelsea and Bayern Munich manager can achieve on the global stage, there are queries about how 'Tuchel-ball' will translate for the Three Lions. Despite guiding England to the final of the Euro 2024 tournament for a second consecutive campaign, Southgate faced criticism over his squad selection in particular.
Palmer had an outstanding breakout season at Stamford Bridge in 2023/24, scoring 22 goals and providing 11 assists in 33 Premier League matches, earning him a spot in the tournament squad. However, the 22-year-old was arguably underused during the tournament, playing only 144 minutes in total for the Three Lions and not starting a single match - despite showing great promise when brought on as a substitute.
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Trailing 1-0 with 73 minutes on the clock, Palmer scored a vital equaliser in the final against Spain, igniting hopes among English fans that 2024 could be their year. In a heart-wrenching twist at the tournament, an 86th-minute clincher from Mikel Oyarzabal dashed England's hopes, with players swiftly removing their runner-up medals in a poignant expression of defeat.
Fans are now eagerly anticipating whether Palmer will secure a place in Tuchel's starting line-up, though the experienced coach has indicated his desire to see the youngster flourish further, reports the Mirror. Speaking to Sky Sports about Palmer's role with England, Tuchel explained: "That's a bit too far going into individual players, but he is definitely on form.
"I think everyone would agree on that, and hopefully he can still grow and keep the level up, and then everything will be fine." Delving into his perceptions of Palmer at Chelsea, the new England manager added: "Everyone enjoys watching him. He's cool, he's composed, he's very clinical in finishing and assisting. So very impressive at the moment."
With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, England's striking options appear slim, particularly as Harry Kane, the nation's top scorer, will be nearing 33 by the competition's kick-off. Nonetheless, Palmer's stellar performances could prove pivotal to England's aspirations for glory on the international stage.
The young talent, who emerged from Manchester City's youth system before transferring to Chelsea in 2023, has demonstrated that his previous season's performance was not a one-off. He has already scored 11 goals and provided six assists in the first 15 matches of the 2024/25 season.
As Chelsea currently occupies the second spot in the Premier League, trailing four points behind league leaders Liverpool, he will undoubtedly be aiming to increase his goal count when the Blues face Brentford on Sunday evening.
