Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino revealed that Cole Palmer was ‘disappointed’ about not getting much play time in England’s recent games against Brazil and Belgium.
The 21-year-old has been outstanding for Chelsea this season, scoring 11 goals and making eight assists in the Premier League, which led to him being chosen for England’s team for their two recent friendly matches.
However, Palmer had a minor injury and so couldn't play in the 1-0 loss to Brazil , Pochettino explained.
Chelsea’s £42.5 million signing, Palmer, stayed on the bench for England’s 2-2 draw with Belgium at Wembley on Tuesday evening, according to Pochettino..
Even after his injury, Pochettino thinks Palmer will be fit to play in Chelsea’s Premier League match against Burnley at home on Saturday.
‘I was talking with him, yes, he’s a little bit disappointed because he could not play with the national team,’ Pochettino said on Thursday.
‘I think the first game he had a small problem, I think he thought he could play in the second game against Belgium but he didn’t play.
‘Now he’s okay, he’s training well. Still one more training session tomorrow [Friday], but I think the plan is if he follows tomorrow in the same way I think he will be available for the game on Saturday.’
Southgate explained his choice to keep Palmer on the bench during the England games, stating: ‘I said when I named the squad there is competition for places in those wide areas.
‘A bit of a shame that Cole Palmer missed so much training that we weren’t able to put him into the game [against Belgium] at the stage it was having missed most of the week.
‘We weren’t 100 per cent certain what we would get whereas with Gordon we knew and Maddison we knew. I wouldn’t rule Cole out of that equation.’
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