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England head coach Thomas Tuchel doubled down on his stance that Cole Palmer "misses too many opportunities to impress," attributing the Chelsea playmaker's exclusion to his recurring injuries and absences during international windows.
Palmer has remained a contentious subject throughout Tuchel's reign. The 24-year-old attacking midfielder was a fixture under Sir Gareth Southgate's leadership, most memorably netting in the 2024 European Championship final loss against Spain. However, an injury-plagued 2025–26 campaign curtailed his availability for the squads leading into last summer's World Cup, which Tuchel had him watch from home.
At the time, the forthright German manager explained that Palmer had been left out due to "a lack of individual form" at Chelsea and the view that he was "just not outstanding" during a limited run of appearances at the March international break.
Tuchel included Palmer in his first post-World Cup squad only to be let down by his rapid withdrawal through injury. Chelsea's No. 10 has since been fit and available for every club match this season. The club's medical staff informed their England counterparts that Palmer was in full health ahead of this month's Nations League games, BBC Sport report.
Despite this, Tuchel still chose to overlook the English player with the most goal contributions in the new Premier League season.
'Not Personal'—Tuchel Explains Palmer's England Omission
Tuchel maintained that the decision reflected Palmer's availability record rather than any personal issue. Much like his predecessor Southgate, Tuchel places great importance on a player's experience within the current international setup. Having missed the team-building sessions at the World Cup and the extended September-October fixture window, the England manager felt it necessary to remain loyal to his established group.
"We are speaking now about a player that is not in camp," Tuchel told the assembled press. "It counts when you are in camp and I just said last time that he misses too many opportunities to impress. It was a long camp, it was two and a half weeks and the players and the boys who were in camp built something extraordinary.
"That's why the credit goes to them, the trust is for them. If you are in camp, this is your chance to impress.
"So it's not personal and of course we will never assume that Cole is not in the mindset to come and desperate to play for his country, but the competition is on and the players who were in camp did an amazing job and kept their place."
England's Potential No. 10s for November Break
"We have enough No. 10s and we stick to the guys who were in the previous camp because we were happy with the two and a half weeks we had together," Tuchel added.
However, it wasn't purely a matter of continuity. Tuchel handed Fulham midfielder Josh King his first call-up this month, theoretically filling a spot that could have gone to Palmer. Tuchel argued that the 19-year-old was being selected for an entirely different role.
"We have Josh King as a new player in there, but I want to see him on both wings," the German coach explained. "He is kind of an extra player and he can play all four positions."
Will Tuchel Ever Call Up Palmer?
While Palmer's international prospects may appear dim at present, this latest snub does not spell the end of his England career.
"The door is always open," Tuchel assured. "Nothing has changed."
Tuchel's current approach means Palmer will partly need to rely on his rivals underperforming—though that remains a genuine possibility. Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo, for example, was dropped this month following a "difficult spell," according to Tuchel.
Palmer's personal goals remain the same: performing at his best for Chelsea. A strong run of form combined with sustained fitness over the festive period could well earn him minutes in March. The real challenge for Palmer and any other English No. 10 is persuading Tuchel that they are a better option than Real Madrid's imperious Jude Bellingham, who looks set to command that shirt and position for at least the next decade.