England's X-factor has 'hill to climb' - will Palmer go to World Cup?

Cole Palmer

Thomas Tuchel spent 58 minutes watching Cole Palmer serve up mouth-watering food for thought at Stamford Bridge while he ponders his World Cup squad.

England's head coach took in Chelsea's 2-0 win over Everton last Saturday, watching Palmer deliver the sort of elite moment that earned him a spot in the Fifa Best men's XI when it was named on Tuesday.

It was classic 'Cold' Palmer.

Chelsea broke Everton down after 21 minutes when Palmer collected Malo Gusto's pass in his stride and then feinted, deceiving Jordan Pickford to send a left-foot finish one way as England's keeper went the other.

Tuchel saw Palmer play for 58 minutes last weekend. The catch is that, as England head coach, he hasn't seen much more of Palmer at international level - just 64 minutes in the World Cup qualifier win against Andorra in June.

A lingering groin problem meant that, against Everton, Palmer was making only his fourth Premier League start of the season, scoring his first goal since September. And in his absence, Tuchel's options for the number 10 role have expanded.

Tuchel may have given a clue to his future thinking with the way he voted in that Fifa Best poll, placing England captain Harry Kane as top choice, followed by Palmer and Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele.

Palmer offers England the X-factor. But will he make their World Cup squad?

If Palmer was fit and firing, he would be at the forefront of Tuchel's thoughts with his creativity and goal threat, having scored 39 times and provided 19 assists in 76 appearances for Chelsea.

He has, however, only played 290 minutes in the Premier League this season.

Palmer showed he was a big-stage player at Euro 2024, scoring England's superb equaliser in the 2-1 final defeat by Spain, as well as setting up Ollie Watkins' late winner against the Netherlands in the semi-final.

Instead, he has fallen down England's pecking order through injury. Morgan Rogers has flourished to threaten Jude Bellingham's starting place, with Phil Foden, Eberechi Eze and Morgan Gibbs-White also staking claims.

Tuchel has made it clear he will not select five number 10s in his squad, saying: "I don't see how this will help us."

Chelsea are continuing to manage Palmer's groin injury, making it likely he will only play one game a week until March, when England face Uruguay and Japan in their final friendlies before Tuchel names his World Cup squad.

Former England defender Matthew Upson, a regular observer of Tuchel's side as a BBC Radio 5 Live pundit, said: "Can he still make it? You can't say no to that, but he has got a big hill to climb. It is a fair old ask. He needs a couple of things to go his way.

"He's missed the last three camps. Tuchel has not had a feel for him and what he can do. He is running out of time massively.

"Percentage wise it's a 'no' more than a 'yes'. Is he going to get the time with Tuchel regardless of him getting back to be the main man with Chelsea?"

Former Chelsea and Scotland winger Pat Nevin delivered a more positive prognosis, saying: "He's got plenty of time. This could work in his favour in a strange way.

"If Tuchel sees him coming into brilliant form towards the middle and end of the season, looking fit and playing well, he won't care about anything other than that simple fact.

"Tuchel doesn't care about the media, about what other people think, or about star names. He will pick people playing well, so I don't think it's panic stations for Palmer."