Chelsea attacking midfielder Cole Palmer has received his first senior England call-up from Gareth Southgate for their upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers. The 21-year-old had initially been named in the Under-21 squad but he will be in the Three Lions’ squad for the first time after his impressive recent form since moving to Stamford Bridge, although his team-mate Raheem Sterling remains out in the cold.
Palmer has earned rave reviews for his impressive displays for the Blues since his £40million transfer from the Etihad Stadium this summer and scored the equaliser in a dramatic 4-4 draw between Chelsea and his former club City on Sunday.
The 21-year-old’s goal was the least he deserved after a tremendous all-round display, earning praise from Mauricio Pochettino and his former boss Pep Guardiola.
According to The Athletic, he will now link up with the senior squad for the upcoming qualifiers against North Macedonia and Malta, along with fellow City academy graduate Rico Lewis, 18, who has excelled under Guardiola’s guiding hand over the past 12 months.
The pair have been drafted into the senior setup by Southgate with permission from Under-21 boss Lee Carsley after James Maddison, Callum Wilson and Jude Bellingham picked up injuries.
Maddison has been forced to withdraw from the squad as he is facing several weeks on the sidelines, while Bellingham faces a late fitness test after missing Real Madrid’s 5-1 win over Valencia at the weekend. Wilson was also absent for Newcastle at the weekend.
With Lewis Dunk anticipated to miss out on both clashes, Lewis has been called up as defensive cover. Palmer, meanwhile, will deputise for the loss of creative duo Maddison and Bellingham if the latter is unable to recover in time.
Palmer has won 15 caps for the Under-21s and scored five goals, but there have been calls for him to be recognised for his impressive form since joining Chelsea.
He has found the net four times – all from the penalty spot – and created four assists for his team-mates as he has taken on a leading role in Pochettino’s youthful side.
And it appears Southgate has been impressed with reports of his performances, although the England boss was not present at Stamford Bridge on Sunday to see for himself.
There is still no place in his squad for Sterling, though, who was one of the players to make a difference and also got on the scoresheet.
It is now the fifth time in a row the 28-year-old has not featured in an England squad, but Southgate said it was a matter of not knowing who to omit to make room for him.
“The door is 100 per cent open, not only for Raheem,” the Three Lions boss told reporters on Thursday.
“We don’t need to know about his quality or personality. He is a crucial part of why we’ve had the journey we’ve had last few years. I can only repeat, the team is playing really well.
“We had an exceptional win here against Italy… who do we leave out to put him in? It’s as simple as that.”
