Gareth Southgate explains why chelsea Goal scorer did not play against Belgium and insists that he is still in Euro 2024 contention.
Gareth Southgate has expressed confidence in Cole Palmer’s chances of securing a spot in England’s Euro 2024 squad, emphasizing that his absence from recent matches was due to a minor injury.
Despite being a standout player for Chelsea this season, Palmer was not part of the matchday squad against Brazil due to injury, and although he was on the bench against Belgium, he didn’t see playing time. Southgate explained that Palmer’s inconsistent training leading up to the match prevented his participation, but he affirmed that Palmer is still in contention for the Euros, although competition for attacking positions in the squad is intense.
Southgate clarified, “I mentioned during squad selection that there’s intense competition for spots in the wide areas.
Unfortunately, Cole Palmer missed a significant portion of training, which prevented us from including him in the game against Belgium, given the stage it was at, having missed most of the week.
We weren’t entirely certain of what to expect from him, whereas with Gordon and Maddison, we had a clearer understanding. However, I wouldn’t exclude Cole from consideration in the future.”
Jack Grealish was absent during the international break, yet Southgate affirms that he remains under consideration for the England squad, stating, “Jack’s certainly still in contention.”
Southgate had discussions with Grealish prior to squad selection, emphasizing the competition for places, particularly highlighting the performances of Anthony Gordon, Marcus Rashford, James Maddison, and Jarrod Bowen, who have all shown strong potential during the recent camp.
Southgate also hinted that England might join other nations in advocating for an expanded squad size, potentially increasing it from 23 players to 26. This adjustment aims to account for potential injuries resulting from the demanding club season. He mentioned ongoing discussions among coaches at UEFA meetings regarding this matter.
“We have to make optimal decisions regarding squad selection based on available information, some of which will involve medical considerations,” Southgate explained. “In past tournaments, we’ve managed these decisions well and provided sufficient recovery time for players named in the squad. However, with only 23 players, this becomes increasingly challenging.”
Gareth Southgate explains why chelsea Goal scorer did not play against Belgium and insists that he is still in Euro 2024 contention.