Southgate's 'secret weapon'? - Palmer's rise to England hopeful

The adjacent fewer days are apt to beryllium nervy for respective England hopefuls arsenic they hold for Gareth Southgate to sanction his last Euro 2024 squad.

But 1 subordinate virtually assured of his spot among nan 26 heading for Germany is Chelsea's Cole Palmer - marking an unthinkable rise.

The 22-year-old has made only 2 England appearances - his debut coming successful November - but, arsenic England look Bosnia-Herzegovina successful their first warm-up lucifer successful Newcastle connected Monday, Palmer is being talked astir arsenic nan Three Lions' 'secret weapon'.

Southgate will suffer 7 players from his preliminary 33-man squad connected Monday, but a batch of eyebrows would beryllium raised if Palmer missed nan cut. A subordinate who wasn't moreover successful nan reckoning past summertime has travel a agelong way.

Many successful nan shot world were shocked erstwhile Palmer near Manchester City for Chelsea successful a £42.5m woody connected 1 September.

He had started this play well, scoring for City successful nan Community Shield conclusion by Arsenal and nan Uefa Super Cup triumph complete Sevilla.

Both of those goals came aft he had played a cardinal domiciled successful England winning nan European Under-21 Championship successful Georgia.

Many considered it a consequence for Palmer to time off his boyhood club, who had conscionable won nan Treble, and wherever he had started to break through, making 13 starts successful a full of 41 elder appearances.

But City head Pep Guardiola was not consenting to let a indebtedness - truthful Palmer made a imperishable move and backed himself to succeed.

And win he has.

He scored 22 goals and provided 11 assists successful 33 convention games, playing a cardinal domiciled arsenic Chelsea overcame a mediocre first half of nan play to suffice for adjacent season's European Conference League.

Palmer's unthinkable shape besides earned him nan Premier League young subordinate of nan play award.

Palmer became nan first Chelsea subordinate to beryllium straight progressive successful 25-plus goals successful a azygous Premier League play since Eden Hazard vanished nan 2018-19 play pinch a tally of 31.

In nan Premier League during nan play conscionable completed, only Erling Haaland scored much goals than Palmer, and only Ollie Watkins provided much assists.

Palmer's mixed full of goals and assists for nan run is greater than immoderate different subordinate from Europe's large 5 leagues who started nan play aged 21 aliases under.

It has been rather a 12 months for a subordinate who was an unused substitute erstwhile City won nan Champions League by beating Inter Milan successful Istanbul.

Former Chelsea and Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas told BBC Sport: "I retrieve I was doing nan Champions League last past summer. He was conscionable warming up there, being 1 of these young players coming up, enjoying nan experience, not being fundamentally selected aliases looked astatine to characteristic successful nan game.

"And past each of a abrupt - a large move to Chelsea. He starts performing astatine a very precocious level pinch a batch of value and personality. He wants nan ball, he makes things hap - nan last pass, he scores goals.

"I was a small spot amazed by nan move to Chelsea. I person to opportunity I've been very impressed. I didn't expect this type of effect and he has been nan subordinate of nan twelvemonth without immoderate uncertainty for Chelsea."

While Palmer is expected to beryllium successful Southgate's travelling squad, his spot successful England's starting XI is acold from assured.

Looking astatine his numbers successful nan Premier League this season, an outsider whitethorn find that surprising, but he finds himself successful nonstop title pinch Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka, James Maddison, Anthony Gordon and Jarrod Bowen.

Palmer’s preferred position is disconnected nan right, but he has shown for Chelsea he tin play anyplace crossed nan beforehand line, and successful a deeper midfield position.

Former England defender Rio Ferdinand told TNT Sport: "He is simply a awesome talent. He has been nan centre of attraction successful a mates of WhatsApp groups I'm progressive in.

"One of my friends likened him to a Chris Waddle-type player. He has superb skill, his equilibrium is mesmeric, it’s phenomenal.

"He is personification that you look astatine pinch England. He is simply a awesome option. He is personification that not everybody will cognize excessively overmuch astir connected nan European stage, world stage.

"He could beryllium different weapon, internationally."

Former England midfielder Joe Cole added: "The technicians are what are going to triumph america nan tournament. They each person to spell and they each person to person clip connected nan pitch.

"Cole Palmer is an absolute genius."