Micah Richards has shared whether he thinks Chelsea’s Cole Palmer should start for England at Euro 2024.
England are now on the eve of their Euros tournament beginning as they face Serbia on Sunday night in the group stages.
Chelsea have two representatives in the Three Lions squad this summer, with Cole Palmer and Conor Gallagher both rewarded for impressive seasons last year at Stamford Bridge.
Palmer, 22, has previous success at international football from when he helped England win the Under-21 European Championship last summer. The left-foot attacker will now be hoping to replicate that with the seniors during his first major tournament.
Micah Richards picks his England team
BBC pundit Micah Richards has named the England XI he would like to see begin the Euros tournament.
Interestingly, Chelsea’s Palmer does make it into the starting line-up, albeit he’s in an unfamiliar left wing position.
The Blues star has been sensational during the last nine months as a right-winger or central attacking playmaker, but he’s got stiff competition in the England squad for those roles.
Richards told BBC Sport: “We have fantastic options at the top end of the pitch and I would have Cole Palmer come into the side after an outstanding first season at Chelsea; England’s two-time player of the year Bukayo Saka; and then of course England’s captain and all-time leading goalscorer Harry Kane.”
Micah Richards’ England XI: Jordan Pickford, Kyle Walker, John Stones, Marc Guehi, Kieran Trippier, Phil Foden, Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Harry Kane, Cole Palmer
Can Cole Palmer play on the left?
First and foremost, Palmer has proven he’s an exceptionally intelligent footballer. That’s why we’d have no doubts he would be able to adapt to a new position out on the left.
However, the Chelsea ace certainly prefers to drift into central areas during games, so it would all depend on the type of system.
Most left-wingers in modern football certainly seem to be right-footed so they can cut infield, which would be another obstacle for Palmer as a left-footer.