Thomas Tuchel has warned Cole Palmer that he "misses too many opportunities" to play for England, following the Chelsea player's omission from the latest national squad. The midfielder was a notable absentee from the squad for upcoming Nations League games against Croatia and Spain. Palmer had withdrawn from the previous international break due to a minor muscular injury.
England confirmed that Palmer was 100% fit and available when they contacted Chelsea this week. His exclusion was reportedly a selection decision by Tuchel, not related to any fitness concerns.
"I guess everyone is desperate to play for England and Cole is no exception," Tuchel said on Friday. "We are speaking now about a player that is not in camp. It counts when you are in camp and I just said last time that he misses too many opportunities to impress."
Tuchel emphasized the importance of being present in camp to make an impression. "The players and the boys who were in camp built something extraordinary. That's why the credit goes to them, the trust is for them. If you are in camp, this is your chance to impress. So it's not personal and of course we will never assume that Cole is not in the mindset to come and desperate to play for his country, but the competition is on and the players who were in camp did an amazing job and kept their place."
Last month, Tuchel questioned Palmer's commitment to England, noting that he "misses way too many camps." The 24-year-old skipped all four England fixtures in September and October. Following his withdrawal from the last squad, Palmer traveled to the Caribbean with his girlfriend, accompanied by a personal rehab coach and a club-provided training plan.
Palmer returned to Chelsea's starting lineup for their fixture against Brentford after the international break. At that time, Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso indicated that the club was prioritizing the player's well-being.
It is standard procedure for England to conduct medical checks on players with their clubs, though this does not guarantee a call-up. Tuchel's decision indicates he was weighing up Palmer's chances for the current squad selection.