THOMAS TUCHEL has sensationally questioned whether Cole Palmer wants to play for England after his latest international withdrawal.
The Three Lions manager, preparing for the Nations League opener against Spain at Wembley tomorrow, has warned the Chelsea forward that he does not feature enough for his country and this is a “missed opportunity”.
Palmer, 24, although not selected for the World Cup, has only played three games for Tuchel and this is the FOURTH time he has withdrawn from a senior squad.
It was put to Tuchel, 53, that it sounds as though Palmer does not want to play for England. The German said: “It’s hard to argue against what you’re saying.
“It leaves us with Jude Bellingham, Morgan Rogers, Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze. All in camp. All desperate to be here. All available. And all ready to go, ready to stop a holiday after one day in Dubai [Gibbs-White].”
Tuchel was also asked what advice he would give to in-form Palmer if he was his friend.
Tuchel said: “I am not his friend. I am his national team coach and I can only judge him on what he is delivering for the national team and he is just missing too many opportunities.
“He misses too many opportunities and I don’t blame him for it. It is just a fact. He misses way too many camps with injuries.
“I only want to rely on what I personally witness and what I see within my team. For that you have to be in camp. If you are not in camp, there is a next level to impress that you cannot achieve.
“You can only leave when you are actually with me on the pitch and with us on the pitch so, yes it is a missed opportunity.
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“My understanding is that he faces discomfort and pain and he cannot compete on the highest level.
“He just informed us, or Chelsea did. That is my understanding. We are not managing load.”
Kobbie Mainoo, Declan Rice, Marcus Rashford and Tino Livramento are the other players who pulled out.
Yet Tuchel appears convinced that the quartet’s fitness concerns are genuine.
Tuchel said: “Every case is individual and if Declan calls me and explains to me…and I actually saw him play v Brighton… I see straightaway on TV that something is off, and he just confirmed that impression
“Every case is different and I knew from Marcus, I knew from Kobbie that they play with discomfort and they try to be available for their clubs.
“I know that it looks strange if a player, not only Cole but Kobbie and Marcus, finish a match at the weekend for their club and then suddenly are not here but okay, first of all, in doubt, we trust the players.
“I have no reason not to trust them because they were with us in the US and they were fantastic.
“There is always a slight dropout and Tino Livramento is also injured. This is just what happens. In total with Dan Burn out, with John Stones out, with Deano Henderson who played with a fractured foot for some matches – it is just what is happening.”
Palmer’s pal Morgan Rogers said: “Unfortunately, he couldn’t be here, but I think he’s got to focus on his body as well and what he went through last year. He needs to be in a good physical state as well, and that obviously comes first as players.”