Chelsea star Cole Palmer puts 'huge pressure' on Gareth Southgate amid Bukayo Saka England move

Roy Keane says that Gareth Southgate will be under "massive pressure" to play Cole Palmer from the start of England's Euro 2024 last 16 tie following the Chelsea star's cameo appearance in the 0-0 draw against Slovenia.

The Three Lions laboured to a point again, with Southgate making just one change from the team that drew 1-1 against Denmark last week, with Blues star Conor Gallagher replacing Trent Alexander-Arnold in the starting lineup.

However, that did not seem to have the desired effect, with the game goalless at the break and Gallagher himself being replaced by Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo.

With England struggling to make a breakthrough, Southgate turned to the bench again with Palmer replacing Bukayo Saka on the right side of the attack, in the first chance the 22-year-old had to make an impact at the tournament. And after staying on the bench for both the win against Serbia and the draw against Denmark, it's fair to say the Chelsea star made an impression against Slovenia.

READ MORE: Ange Postecoglou leaves ITV studio in hysterics after making Benjamin Sesko Arsenal transfer claim

READ MORE: Chelsea close to announcing double transfer as Todd Boehly plan becomes clear to Enzo Maresca

Discussing Southgate's decisions after the game, Roy Keane stated that Palmer had definitely given Southgate to think about ahead of the knockout rounds, on an ITV panel including Gary Neville, Ian Wright and Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou.

"He'll be under huge pressure to play Palmer in the next game because he came on tonight and affected the game," Keane said on ITV Sport.

"They are struggling to get that flow of the game. But they are keeping clean sheets and a couple of young players came on tonight and maybe that's the way to go. I always say with young players, they have got no fear, just go with them sometimes."

Southgate also had praise for the Chelsea attacker after the match, admitting that he, Mainoo and Newcastle's Anthony Gordon had made an impact off the bench.

"[Palmer] did very good," Southgate said about the Chelsea star after the match.

"He finds space well and he makes chances and we were backing him to score at the end. They are young players and we are blooding them in a difficult environment. They had a good impact for us and did good things for us.

"Anthony Gordon, Cole Palmer, Kobbie Mainoo, it was a really good move. We have to build on that. There were a lot of things to build on from tonight."