Cole Palmer, the talented midfielder for Chelsea, has provided a significant boost to the team by returning to training after missing England’s recent match against Brazil due to a small injury. Palmer’s presence in training reassures Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino ahead of their upcoming Premier League clash against Burnley.
Although Palmer sat out of England’s 1-0 defeat to Brazil, he has rejoined the squad for training in preparation for the friendly match against Belgium on Tuesday. This suggests that Palmer’s injury concern was minor, and he may even feature in the upcoming game, potentially earning his third cap for England.
Palmer’s return is welcomed news for Chelsea, as the former Manchester City player has been in sensational form this season. With 37 appearances under his belt, Palmer has contributed significantly with 16 goals and 12 assists.
Additionally, England’s squad also sees the return of Jordan Henderson to training, indicating his potential availability for the match against Belgium. However, Kyle Walker and Harry Maguire have withdrawn from the squad due to injuries sustained during the Brazil game. This has led to the inclusion of Rico Lewis and James Trafford from the Under-21 squad as replacements
Despite the absence of key players like Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka, England manager Gareth Southgate remains optimistic about the upcoming match against Belgium. He sees it as an opportunity for new players to showcase their talent and build momentum heading into the summer tournaments.
Southgate acknowledges the challenges posed by facing top-level opposition like Brazil and Belgium but emphasizes the importance of learning from these experiences. Despite the loss to Brazil, he is pleased with the performance of the young and inexperienced players, highlighting their potential contributions to the team in the future.
As England prepares for the Euros, Southgate views these high-level games as valuable learning opportunities for the squad, allowing him to assess players’ readiness for the upcoming challenges.
