IT says much about the Cole Palmer phenomenon that he has been named as England’s Player of the Year without having ever started in a competitive international.
In Thursday’s Nations League clash with Greece, Lee Carsley will finally give the Chelsea talisman his chance to shine in a meaningful match for his country after a sensational start to the new season.
Palmer’s first-half quadruple against Brighton earlier this month has raised his figures to an extraordinary 28 goals and 16 assists in 41 Premier League games for Chelsea.
Underused by both Pep Guardiola and Gareth Southgate, Palmer now has two true believers to manage him at club and international level.
Chelsea’s Enzo Maresca and Carsley — under whom Palmer won the European Under-21 Championship last year — both seem ready to build their teams around the sublime gifts of the 22-year-old Mancunian.
On and off the field, Palmer appears supremely unruffled.
READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS
As Carsley says: “Whatever you throw at Cole, he deals with it.”
That includes the England Player of the Year award after just nine caps, seven as a substitute.
Though he did deliver a goal in the Euros final defeat by Spain and assist for Ollie Watkins’ dramatic late winner in the semi-final win over Holland.
If that gong, voted for by fans, feels like a cuff around the ear for Southgate, then it is also a rare slight on Guardiola, who allowed Palmer to join Chelsea last year because he could not guarantee him regular starts at Manchester City.
Most read in Football
FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS
Interim boss Carsley is careful not to openly criticise Southgate but, asked about the player’s lack of starting chances, he replied: “I can’t really talk, from a seniors point of view, about what’s gone on with Cole.
“But I’ve seen the impact he has had when he’s been given the opportunity.
“He had a similar role for us in the Under-21 Euros where he built into the tournament and then started in the final.
“Cole is in a brilliant position. He has really found his feet at Chelsea, he is highly-rated, he’s getting minutes, he’s showing that he can handle the intensity of playing game after game.
“So that’s been a real plus for him and we’re getting the benefit of that.
“Because when you talk about players who are in form, the fact that he’s getting so much exposure and his numbers in terms of goals and assists is brilliant for us.
“Ultimately, he’s still a young player, he’s still got a lot of improving to do.
“Even though he’s at an incredible limit at the moment, I still think he can get better.”
Carsley spoke last week about the difficulties of trying to fit Palmer, Real Madrid Galactico Jude Bellingham and Footballer of the Year Phil Foden into the same eleven, as all of them covet the No 10 role.
That trio all missed last month’s Nations League 2-0 wins over Ireland and Finland.
And Carsley now faces a fascinating selection dilemma against the Greeks, who top the group ahead of England on goal difference.
While Foden has often started wide for club and country, Carsley — who worked with the player as a City youth coach — is adamant that his best position is in a more central role.
Carsley said: “It’s been a few years but I spent a lot of time with him at Manchester City with the Under-18s and also England Under-21s.
“Phil’s an unbelievable player, we’re very lucky to have someone with his talent and mentality.
“And we now need to make sure we put him in positions where he can really affect the opposition.
“Playing him in the wider positions, he can do it, but we’d have to change the way we play to get the best out of him.
“In central areas, Phil’s at his most effective.”
Whether Foden, Palmer and Bellingham can start together, we are unlikely to find out either at Wembley or against Finland in Helsinki on Sunday, given that all three are having their workloads managed after injuries.
But asked about this selection conundrum, Carsley said: “I’ve definitely got a plan in place.
“The beauty of this job is you get a lot of time to think.
“In between driving from game to game, you are constantly thinking about combinations and relationships.
“Those three are brilliant players but we have a squad of really exciting, talented players.
“So you have to have that feeling you’ve earned your place — rather than try and shoe-horn players into positions.
“You get diluted as a head coach if you’re picking players who are out of form, based on what they’ve done in the past.”
READ MORE SUN STORIES
That sounded like a veiled criticism of Southgate at the Euros — and it’s an opinion shared by the voting public.
Just imagine how good England’s Player of the Year might be once he’s actually starting matches.
England ratings vs Finland: Kane bags double on his big day… but he’s not the Three Lions’ star man
TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD showed his brilliance as Harry Kane’s brace saw England beat Finland.
Interim boss Lee Carsley maintained his 100 per cent win record in charge of England.
SunSports Tom Barclay has given their ratings of the England players…
Jordan Pickford – 6
Had nothing to do.
Trent Alexander-Arnold – STAR MAN 9
England’s best player as he supplied some beautiful balls from deep that on another day would have led to a glut of assists.
He did get one in the end, although that was more thanks to Harry Kane’s lethal finishing.
Ezri Konsa – 6
Showed his ability on the ball with a super ball through for Bukayo Saka on the half hour.
Twisted his ankle early in the second half, surprisingly played on before being replaced on the hour.
John Stones – 6
Played at left-sided centre-back before shifting when Levi Colwill came on.
Solid though not much to deal with. Now 19 short of 100 caps.
Rico Lewis – 7
In the right place to snuff out early danger from ex-Norwich man Teemu Pukki.
Came close to a goal on his second England cap when prodding wide after the break.
Declan Rice – 5
Lost possession to give Finland their one and only big chance which Topi Kesinen should have squared to Pukki, but instead fired wildly over.
Angel Gomes – 7
Wanted the ball from the off, just like Lee Carsley thought he would. Deliciously drilled cross-field ball to Alexander-Arnold early doors showed his range.
Bukayo Saka – 7
Almost scored and almost assisted in a lively display.
Unlucky that Kane was millimetres offside after the centurion had headed home the Arsenal man’s wicked delivery.
Jack Grealish – 7
Enjoyed being in the heart of the action at No10 again, as he did on Saturday against the Republic of Ireland.
Carsley clearly likes him – it will be fascinating to see what happens when Mssrs Bellingham, Foden and Palmer all return.
Anthony Gordon – 7
Caused problems down the left with his rapid pace – how we needed some of that in the Euros.
But did not have on his shooting boots as he fluffed a decent chance early in the second half.
Harry Kane – 8
Two blistering finishes took the centurion to an astonishing 68 goals in 100 caps.
Was denied the chance of a hat-trick in front of his family when subbed off to a standing ovation for the final ten.
Kane said he fancies his chances of reaching a ton of international goals – and it does not seem fanciful.
SUBS
Levi Colwill (on for Konsa, 61) – 6
Next to no threat from Finland by the time he came on.
Eberechi Eze (on for Gordon, 66) – 6
Raced on to yet another special Trent pass but could not loop it over the keeper.
Noni Madueke (on for Saka, 66) – 7
Looked to make an impact every time he got the ball on debut. Excellent one-two with Trent saw the Chelsea man tee up Kane’s second.
Marc Guehi (on for Stones, 80) – 6
As with Colwill, little to do.
Jarrod Bowen (on for Kane, 81) – 6
Played up top after Kane went off for the final minutes, as he has done for West Ham.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
