Southgate's secret weapon? – Palmer's rise in England, hope

The next few days are likely to be nervous for several England hopefuls as they wait for Gareth Southgate to name his latest squad for Euro 2024.

But one player all but assured of his place among the 26 heading to Germany is Chelsea's Cole Palmer, who scored his first England goal on his first international start against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Monday – marking an incredible rise.

The 22-year-old has made just three appearances for England – his debut will come in November – but Palmer is considered the Three Lions' 'secret weapon'.

Southgate will lose seven players from his 33-man preliminary squad, but many eyebrows would be raised if Palmer misses the cut. A player who wasn't even on the roster last summer has come a long way.

Palmer's breakthrough season

Many in the football world were shocked when Palmer left Manchester City for Chelsea in a £42.5 million deal on September 1.

He had started well this season, scoring for City in the Community Shield defeat to Arsenal and the UEFA Super Cup victory over Sevilla.

Both goals came after he played a key role in England's European Under-21 Championship victory in Georgia.

Many considered it a risk for Palmer to leave his boyhood club, who had just won the treble and where he had begun to break through, making 13 starts in a total of 41 senior appearances.

But City manager Pep Guardiola was unwilling to approve a loan move. So Palmer made a permanent change and made sure he was successful.

And he succeeded.

He scored 22 goals and provided 11 assists in 33 league matches, playing a key role as Chelsea overcame a poor first half of the season to qualify for next season's European Conference League.

Palmer's incredible form also earned him the Premier League Young Player of the Season award.

“Chelsea Player of the Year”

Palmer became the first Chelsea player to be directly involved in more than 25 goals in a single Premier League season since Eden Hazard finished the 2018-19 season with a tally of 31.

In the Premier League during the just-completed season, only Erling Haaland scored more goals than Palmer, and only Ollie Watkins provided more assists.

Palmer's combined total of goals and assists for the campaign is more than any other player in Europe's big five leagues who started the season aged 21 or younger.

It's been 12 months for a player who was an unused substitute when City won the Champions League by beating Inter Milan in Istanbul.

Former Chelsea and Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas told BBC Sport: “I remember I was playing in the Champions League final last summer. He was just getting excited. warming up there, being one of those young players coming up, enjoying the experience, not basically being picked or looked at.” to appear in the game.

“And then all of a sudden, a big move to Chelsea. He's starting to play at a very high level with a lot of quality and personality. He wants the ball, he makes things happen – the final pass, he scores goals. goals.

“I was a bit surprised by the transfer to Chelsea. I have to say I was very impressed. I didn't expect this type of impact and he was undoubtedly the player of the year for Chelsea.”

“It could be another weapon at international level”

While Palmer is expected to be part of Southgate's traveling squad, his place in England's starting XI is far from assured.

Looking at his numbers in the Premier League this season, an outsider might find it surprising, but he finds himself in direct competition with Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka, James Maddison, Anthony Gordon and Jarrod Bowen.

Palmer's preferred position is on the right, but he showed Chelsea that he can play anywhere across the front line and in a deeper midfield position.

Former England defender Rio Ferdinand told TNT Sport: “He's a wonderful talent. He's been the center of attention in a few WhatsApp groups I'm involved in.

“A friend of mine compared him to a Chris Waddle type player. He has superb skills, his balance is hypnotic, it's phenomenal.

“He's someone you look at with England. He's a great option. He's someone not everyone knows much about on the European and international scene.

“He could be another weapon internationally.”

Former England midfielder Joe Cole added: “It's the technicians who are going to win us the tournament. They all have to go and they all have to get time on the pitch.

“Cole Palmer is an absolute genius.”

What place would Palmer occupy in your England XI?