Rogers insists Palmer is keen to play for England

England midfielder Morgan Rogers has dismissed claims that Cole Palmer is not serious about playing for England. He says Palmer is very eager to represent his country.

Rogers called the idea that Palmer lacks commitment a “lie” and “nonsense” after England's 2-1 win over Croatia in the UEFA Nations League.

The 24-year-old scored the first goal, while Harry Kane secured the win with a penalty on his record-breaking 126th game for England.

Palmer was left out of Thomas Tuchel’s squad after the England manager said the forward missed too many chances to show his talent.

The Chelsea player, who also missed the World Cup squad, had to pull out of the last international camp in September due to a minor injury.

After the Croatia match on Thursday, Rogers made it clear that Palmer still wants to play for England. “He wants to be here. He wanted to get called up and he wanted to come and represent his country as he always has done,” Rogers said.

He explained that Palmer had some injury problems last year and sometimes did not feel fit on the pitch. Rogers said his friend needs to take care of his body to enjoy a long career.

He added that Palmer's choice to manage his fitness should not be seen as a lack of interest in playing for England. “It has nothing to do with England or not wanting to play with England. It’s a nonsense really that people are questioning someone that wants to play for England. It’s a lie,” he said.

Palmer has 14 England caps since his international debut three years ago, scoring two goals and making one assist. One of those goals was in the Euro 2024 final against Spain, where he equalized before England lost 2-1.

Even though he has not played much internationally, Palmer has been in great form at club level with 50 Premier League goals and 24 assists. He was named England Men’s Player of the Year for the 2023-24 season for his excellent performances.

But Palmer has only played in three of Tuchel’s 27 matches since he took over from Gareth Southgate as England manager. Tuchel has said Palmer is still part of his plans but noted that the competition for attacking spots is tough.

“We have enough number 10s and we stick to the guys who were in the previous camp because we were happy with the two and a half weeks we had together,” Tuchel said.

The England manager also recognized that Palmer wants to play for his country but emphasized that players must grab their chances when they come. “It’s not personal. We will never assume Cole is in the mindset never to come to the camp. Cole is always in our mindset but the competition is on,” Tuchel added.

Palmer’s future with the national team is still uncertain. His chances to impress Tuchel will be key in deciding when he returns to the England squad.