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Chelsea star Cole has not had a single second of action in England’s underwhelming opening two games at Euro 2024
That is despite the 22-year-old either scoring or assisting a whopping 42 goals in all competitions this season.
But while the clamour for Palmer is understandable, it is another player unused against Serbia and Denmark whose introduction could spark some life into England’s tepid tournament.
Anthony Gordon has the pace and directness that Southgate’s side are crying out for down that left-hand side.
The Newcastle winger, 23, loves to go at players, works his socks off and will open up spaces for Jude Bellingham to exploit in the middle.
He could also be key to getting the best out of captain Harry Kane, who has looked way off it so far this tournament despite netting against the Danes.
Kane’s mobility has been a worry – perhaps that back injury suffered at the end of the season is still bothering him – but the team set-up does not appear to be playing to his strengths either.
As former skipper Alan Shearer pointed out, Kane needs players who have the capacity to run beyond him and make space.
It is why he flourished playing alongside Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford, neither of whom are in the squad in Germany after poor club campaigns.
Gordon would provide a similar quality to the team – and remember, that is what is all about, the team, not just about bundling in your best players.
We tried that with the golden generation under Sven with Gerrard, Lampard, Scholes etc and it came to nothing.
England need runners up top, especially with no attacking threat coming from left-back due to Luke Shaw’s injury and Southgate’s decision not to take another natural left-footer in that position.
Bukayo Saka has been our most consistent attacking performer on the right-hand side so he must stay in the team.
But on the left, sadly, it feels like Phil Foden should drop to the bench, despite a better display from the Manchester City man in Frankfurt.
His game just seems too similar to Bellingham, whose Serbia performance proved he has to be the starting No10 at the moment even if he was poor against Denmark, and England need width and legs out wide.
Foden would still have a huge role to play off the bench – and if Bellingham is poor against Slovenia in the final group game, could even come in for the Real man for the last 16 provided we get there.
It seems barmy given he was a deserving Player of the Year winner this term but his natural habitat is not wide left – he just wants to come in every time – and the blend is not working well.
Gordon, in contrast, is at home out on the wing.
His energy and capacity to stretch defences look to be what is missing right now.
Palmer, on the other hand, has a similar skillset to what is already in the team.
A technician, possessing unbelievable ability on the ball, and a calm head no doubt – he isn’t called Cold Palmer for nothing – but not blessed with electric pace and will not look to race in behind.
Gordon is big on visualisation, spending the night before games picturing how the match will go to give himself the best chance of shining when the whistle goes.
He has not been part of Southgate’s vision so far this tournament – let’s hope the England boss sees now that it is time to change that.
s0uce ALLFOOTBALL.COM