Jason Cundy has a theory on what England boss Gareth Southgate is trying to do with Chelsea’s Cole Palmer ahead of the Euro 2024 tournament.
Blues star Cole Palmer, 22, is now in Germany with England’s 26-man squad for the Euros competition. He’s joined by club teammate Conor Gallagher, too.
The Three Lions kickstart their group stages on Sunday night versus Serbia.
It’s Palmer’s first time at a major international tournament with the England senior group, but will he be thrown straight into the starting XI this weekend?
In fairness, the Chelsea attacker started both of England’s warm-up matches earlier in June. He scored in a 3-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina, plus played in the 1-0 defeat to Iceland.
Jason Cundy theory on Cole Palmer
TalkSPORT pundit Jason Cundy believes that Gareth Southgate is trying to make room for the Chelsea talisman in his England starting line-up.
He suggests that Palmer’s form and quality may mean he forces his way into the playing XI, whether that’s as a No 10 or a winger.
Cundy told talkSPORT: “From what I’ve seen of the games, I think he’s (Southgate) trying to get Palmer in somewhere. He doesn’t quite know how or where. He might bring him off the bench. It doesn’t feel the right move to start him ahead of Saka, but this [injury speculation] validates it.
“The games he’s played, Palmer’s looked quite exciting. He’s looked like he might make something happen. He’s earned his stripes the boy.”
The Express claimed that there’s concerns Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka may not be fit enough to start England’s opening game of the tournament.
However, England’s official X account confirmed on Tuesday that all 26 players took part in training as preparations ramp up in Germany.
Time to unleash Chelsea match-winner
The Chelsea Chronicle would urge England to make room for Palmer in the starting team.
Of course, there may be some bias because of watching him week in week out last season. It’s pretty obvious that he was one of the most devastating forwards in the country, though.
Even when Palmer isn’t at his brilliant best, the left-footed playmaker always seems to still produce goalscoring moments in a game of football.
England are so blessed in forward areas that they should pose a big threat regardless of the XI put out by Southgate. We still think Palmer is just in too much form right now to overlook.