"He's bang in form, on top of his game" - Paul Merson insists Chelsea star has to start for his national team
Former Arsenal attacker Paul Merson has said that Chelsea attacker Cole Palmer is in good enough form to start regularly for England. The 22-year-old is off to a sizzling start to the season with Chelsea.
Palmer has six goals and five assists in seven games in the Premier League - where the Blues are fourth in the standings - four points off leaders Liverpool (18). The youngster has expectedly been picked in England's squad to take on Greece at home in the UEFA Nations League on Thursday (October 10).
Cole Palmer is yet to play under Three Lions interim boss Lee Carsley, having only started twice in his nine previous appearances for the Euro 2024 finalists. Merson explained Carsley's predicament of fitting Palmer in the XI (as per Tribal Football):
“If Palmer plays, what about Bellingham? If Bellingham plays, what about Palmer? How you get these players in the team, I do not know. It's a hard one; it's a hard one.
“He's (Palmer) got to be in the team, though. He's got to be; he's bang in form. I'm a great believer in playing people who are in form; not all the time, or you don't get a team. International football's different, but he's bang in form, on top of his game, and, for me, he's got to play.
He added:
“Playing at No 10's going to be hard; international football's a lot different. When you start playing against the big boys, the international big boys, people look out for you.
“On the international side, he'll be alright at the moment. Bellingham's got the reputation, not Palmer. He catches international teams cold, not so much Ireland, but other teams won't have played against him to know what he's like.
Merson concluded:
"While he's hot, you play these players. You have to. If you can't find a space for him now, I don't see him playing for England. He can't get any more consistent.”
The Three Lions play Finland away on October 13 after the Greece game, with Palmer expected to play both games.
How has Chelsea's Cole Palmer fared for England?
Chelsea attacker Cole Palmer made his senior international debut for England in a 2-0 home win over Malta in a Euro 2024 qualifier in November 2023. Since then, he has gone on to make eight more appearances.
Palmer bagged his first goal for the Three Lions in a 3-0 home win over Bosnia & Herzegovina in a friendly in March this year. His only other strike in international football came in his most recent appearance, the Euro 2024 final against Spain.
With England trailing, Palmer came off the bench in the second half to score the equaliser before La Roja bagged a late winner to become the first four-time European Championship winners.