Cole Palmer in line for England recall as Tuchel names new squad
Cole Palmer is heading back towards England.
Thomas Tuchel is considering a recall for the Chelsea attacker for his first squad since the World Cup, with the group due to be confirmed on Friday morning The Guardian. It would be a sharp turnaround. Palmer missed the summer tournament after struggling for form and fitness.
He has started this season fast. Four goals and two assists for Chelsea have put him straight back in the conversation.
Tuchel was blunt in May about why Palmer missed out. He said the 24-year-old had “failed to prove it on a consistent level” after a difficult club campaign. The numbers since then have done his talking for him.
He is not the only familiar face in contention. Morgan Gibbs-White is also pushing for a return after a strong start with Nottingham Forest. The midfielder finished last season well but was still left out of the World Cup party alongside Palmer and Phil Foden.
At the tournament, Tuchel leaned on Jude Bellingham, Eberechi Eze and Morgan Rogers in those creative roles behind the striker. That pecking order could now shift.
There could be a fresh name too. Bournemouth’s Alex Scott, 23, is in the frame and is yet to win his first senior cap, the term for a first international appearance The Guardian. He was made to wait after missing the World Cup squad. A call-up would be a first real taste of senior international football.
Tuchel has some fitness puzzles to solve. Dean Henderson, Djed Spence, Dan Burn, John Stones and Jordan Henderson all had issues ahead of the announcement. Spence made the final 26 for the World Cup in May, while Harry Maguire missed out entirely.
What comes next is a proper test. England play in the Nations League, UEFA’s international competition held between major tournaments, in Group A3 against Spain, Croatia and Czechia. They kick off the campaign against Spain on Saturday 26 September.
For fans, this means a reset. The World Cup selections drew a line. This squad draws the next one, with in-form players rewarded and a new midfielder given a chance to show he belongs.
