Thomas Tuchel faces a decision over Cole Palmer when he names England’s squad on Friday for November’s Nations League matches against Croatia and Spain. The Chelsea forward has made a productive start to the campaign, but injuries and a lack of impact in his England appearances remain concerns.
Palmer has five goals and three assists in 11 matches for Chelsea in all competitions. Among players competing for England’s number 10 role, only team-mate Morgan Rogers has recorded more goal involvements in the opening months of the season. However, penalties account for part of Palmer’s total. Excluding spot-kicks, he has been outscored by the other options for the role since the start of last season, while Rogers and Jude Bellingham have scored more than him in open play this campaign.
Phil Foden has also registered eight goal involvements this season, matching Palmer, although four came in a Champions League game against AEK Athens. Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White has created 2.6 chances per game, the same rate as Palmer, and has scored more since the beginning of the 2025-26 campaign. Gibbs-White took Palmer’s place in Tuchel’s most recent squad.
Palmer’s record under Tuchel is another factor in the debate. He has made three appearances for England under the manager, including two starts, without a goal or assist. Bellingham leads the team’s attacking returns during Tuchel’s tenure with eight goals and six assists, followed by Rogers with three goals and three assists. Eberechi Eze has scored three times and provided one assist.
Availability has also disrupted Palmer’s England career. He missed Tuchel’s first camp in March 2025 with a hamstring injury and later managed a recurring groin problem that restricted his club appearances. His most recent England outing came in March, when he came on against Uruguay before starting against Japan and being substituted after 59 minutes.
Palmer withdrew from the latest international break after reporting that he had played for Chelsea with discomfort and pain. Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso said the forward had been struggling in the team’s 3-0 defeat by Brentford before the break. Palmer then took a rehabilitation coach on an overseas holiday and followed an injury-specific training plan.
After returning to Chelsea training, he signed a contract running until 2034 and provided an assist in a 5-1 win over Bournemouth. He has since started each of Chelsea’s matches apart from their League Cup defeat by Liverpool, which he missed through suspension. His latest appearance was Saturday’s 2-0 win over Manchester United, in which he scored from the penalty spot.
Alonso said Palmer was committed to England but needed to be fully fit to play, adding that both Chelsea and the national team needed him. Tuchel has previously said the forward misses too many opportunities to represent England. If Palmer is left out again, his availability is likely to be central to the decision.
Sources: BBC Sport Football.