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England head coach Thomas Tuchel has acknowledged that Cole Palmer "misses way too many" chances to make an impression for England following the Chelsea forward's most recent injury withdrawal.
After a strong start to the campaign earned Palmer a return to the England fold, he was among five players to pull out of the squad due to fitness issues. Initial reports suggested Palmer's departure from camp was attributed to "load management."
This leaves Palmer with only three England caps under Tuchel, with injuries blighting his 2025 before a dip in form saw him excluded from the England manager's plans for the first half of the year, including the World Cup.
"My understanding is that he plays through discomfort and pain and he cannot perform at the highest level under those conditions, so he stepped back and informed us, and Chelsea informed us," Tuchel explained.
"That is my understanding. We are not managing load. That's why we selected him. It is certainly a missed opportunity. It is yet another missed opportunity. He misses too many opportunities and I don't hold it against him, it is simply a fact. He misses way too many camps.
"I can only assess what I see within my team. For that, you need to be in camp. If you are not in camp there is a next level to impress that you simply cannot reach, because you can only do it when you are actually with me and the group on the pitch. So, yes, it is a missed opportunity."
Palmer Must Heed Tuchel Warning
While there is no indication that Palmer's need to manage his physical condition is anything but legitimate, the uncomfortable truth is that it will inevitably have a significant impact on his England career moving forward.
Tuchel has been open about his preference for a tight-knit England squad, previously selecting players based purely on their contributions to the national side rather than their club form.
In fact, it was back in January of this year that Tuchel chose not to include Jude Bellingham in one of his squads. The Real Madrid midfielder had recovered from a shoulder problem and was keen to be involved, yet Tuchel publicly stated he preferred to give those who had impressed during the previous international break another opportunity to stake their claim for England.
If Tuchel is willing to take that stance with Bellingham — arguably the second-most important figure in the squad behind captain Harry Kane — it would come as little surprise to see Tuchel take a firm line over Palmer's place in the side.
Palmer, after all, operates in the same position as Bellingham, the standout attacking midfielder in a crowded group that also features Morgan Rogers, Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze. Those three have the opportunity to demonstrate they deserve to serve as alternatives to Bellingham, while the likes of Palmer and Manchester City's Phil Foden are left watching from home.
Foden serves as another cautionary tale for Palmer. Tuchel spoke highly of the homegrown City star's qualities in training but ultimately left him out of the World Cup squad, admitting he was simply not sufficiently impressed by the 26-year-old in an England shirt. If you fail to catch Tuchel's attention when it counts, the manager will have no hesitation in turning his gaze elsewhere.
With more than 18 months remaining before England's next major tournament, Palmer still has ample time to win Tuchel over but, as the manager himself says, he simply cannot keep squandering the chance to showcase his talents on the international stage.