England: Gareth Southgate explains why Cole Palmer did not play during international break

Cole Palmer’s fading Euro 2024 hopes have received a significant boost, with Gareth Southgate insisting the Chelsea forward is still in contention to make his final squad despite not playing a minute against either Brazil and Belgium.

In-form Palmer made his England debut in November and was again called up by Southgate for the recent friendlies at Wembley.

But a minor injury meant he missed the Brazil game, while he did not get off the bench against Belgium.

Southgate is spoilt for choice in attack, with Jarrod Bowen and Anthony Gordon adding to his array of options with impressive showings in those two matches.

The England manager, though, has Palmer still very much in his thoughts.

Palmer has 11 goals and eight assists in the Premier League this season and Southgate said: “I said when I named the squad there is competition for places in those wide areas.

“It’s 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 [James] Maddison we knew. I wouldn't rule Cole out of that equation.”

Such is the depth of England’s wing stock that established players like Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish are in danger of missing out on the Euros this summer.

Rashford played only 15 minutes off the bench against Brazil and was an unused substitute in the Belgium game, while Grealish missed out on a call-up having been sidelined by injury at Manchester City.

"He's definitely not out of the picture,” Southgate said of Grealish. “I spoke to him before I named the squad. He was he was back into training but I didn't think for these games he was going to be at a physical level to be able to compete.

“But as I said when I named the squad, Gordon and Bowen are pushing those guys.”