Cole Palmer is no ‘bottle job’ but must star for England to reach next level

0Cole Palmer spent part of the international break on holiday in the Caribbean after withdrawing from the England squad due to a groin issue – Reuters/Peter CziborraThe message from inside Chelsea is that Cole Palmer is determined to win back his place in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad. And if he has any ambitions to be widely considered a world-class footballer, Palmer will have to start playing for England again.

Paul Winstanley, Chelsea’s co-sporting director, once told this newspaper that Palmer has the ability to win the Ballon d’Or.

Palmer was the highest-ranked English footballer in last year’s Ballon d’Or, finishing eighth ahead of Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham.

At one stage, it seemed Palmer had the world at his feet. But a season affected by injuries and loss of form meant he did not make this year’s shortlist and the 24-year-old’s stock outside Chelsea has fallen.

Never short of a strong opinion, Roy Keane said: “If you think he’s going to get England to another level and win trophies, forget about it. I like Palmer, he’s a talented boy, but he’s got far too many bad habits.”

Xabi Alonso, the Chelsea manager, dismissed Piers Morgan’s typically hysterical claim that Palmer is a “bottle job” by claiming he did not know who the broadcaster was.

“It’s social media and people,” said Alonso. “I don’t know the comment and I don’t know that guy [Morgan].”

Chelsea’s faith in Palmer’s ability is unwavering, but it will take more than wowing Stamford Bridge regulars each week to put him alongside the very best footballers of his generation.

The latest international break, just finished, offered a reminder of the importance the world’s best footballers place on appearing for their national teams and the status it affords them.

Argentina wept as Lionel Messi played his last-ever game for his country, while Cristiano Ronaldo wrote a near 2,000-word statement on his Portugal future. Kane equalled England’s appearance record.

Palmer spent part of the international break in the Caribbean with a personal rehabilitation coach and his girlfriend. He also visited a lavish five-star hotel in Windsor, where he was pictured by his girlfriend driving a golf cart in a bathrobe.

Followers of Palmer’s girlfriend on social media may have found the holiday snaps endearing, but they did little to dispel the narrative, perhaps unfairly, that has been gathering around Chelsea’s star player.

It did not take much probing to prompt Tuchel, the England head coach, into admitting that it was “hard to argue” with those who had questioned Palmer’s commitment to international football.

Tuchel also broke with normal protocol for England coaches to reveal that Palmer had missed the latest camp because of the groin issue that caused him significant issues last season.

Chelsea are unlikely to have been grateful to Tuchel for publicising the nature of Palmer’s problem that the club had described simply as being a “small injury” when he initially withdrew.

Given Alex Scott played two days after experiencing pain against Croatia and will now miss Saturday’s game between Chelsea and Bournemouth, and at least four more weeks, Alonso believes Palmer’s decision to spend part of the international break in his dressing gown and slippers was vindicated.

“Now, he’s fine,” said Alonso. “He’s been feeling better this week. We used the first two weeks for him to recover and now, yes, it’s a little bit from the pubalgia [groin issue] he had. But now he’s feeling ok.

“We were cautious and he was cautious. He wouldn’t have played the way he wants to play, so, sometimes, it’s better to take a step back and wait until you feel better and do it the right way. With Cole, it was the right decision.”

Palmer put his body on the line for Chelsea last season, playing with groin pain and ultimately making it worse, which cost him a place in England’s World Cup squad.

That would have undoubtedly hurt him, despite his carefree persona. But Palmer must now prove he is ready to give his country at least equal billing to his club if he is to reach the very top of the game.

Palmer has withdrawn from four England squads and has only played three times for his country since October 2024. He has 14 caps in total, which is 12 fewer than his Chelsea team-mate and close friend Morgan Rogers.

Chelsea insiders are adamant Palmer wants to play for his country and should he need inspiration from within the club, then Palmer only needs to look at Alonso.

As a player, Alonso won the Champions League with Liverpool and league titles with Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, but his legendary status came from the former midfielder’s European Championship and World Cup successes with Spain.

“Things happen naturally and when you show for your club that you are a top level player and you have consistency, normally it is the natural way that you are part of the national team,” said Alonso. “And, for sure, it’s great to enjoy those experiences because it’s different from the club dynamic and I’m sure that it will happen [for Palmer]. Sometimes you need to wait a little bit longer, but I’m sure that with his age, with his level, feeling good, it will happen.”

Asked how winning with his country compared with winning with his clubs, Alonso said: “It is different. Both feel great. It’s a different dynamic, but you can enjoy [winning with your country] as much, for sure. And it means so much for fulfilling your career to achieve great things.”

Four goals in the first seven games of this season suggest Palmer has the bit between his teeth and he will need to make a fast start to the resumption of the domestic campaign to put pressure on Tuchel in time for England’s November games against Croatia and Spain.

For Palmer to make himself a legend outside Chelsea and hit the heights predicted by Winstanley, then he must win over Tuchel and start pulling on an England shirt far more regularly.

Try full access to The Telegraph free today. Unlock their award-winning website and essential news app, plus useful tools and expert guides for your money, health and holidays.