Cole Palmer is sitting out England's upcoming international break, and it is not by accident. Thomas Tuchel has made the deliberate choice to leave the Chelsea midfielder out of his latest squad selection, and the football world is talking.
The 23-year-old has been in solid form for Chelsea this season, registering five goals and three assists across 11 appearances. But Tuchel has been vocal about his frustration with Palmer's repeated withdrawals from previous England camps due to fitness concerns, and that history clearly influenced this decision.
Two fresh faces are stepping into the spotlight in Palmer's absence. Borussia Dortmund's Jobe Bellingham and Fulham's Josh King have both earned their first senior England call-ups, giving Tuchel a chance to test new options ahead of Nations League fixtures against Croatia on November 12 and Spain on November 15.
For Palmer, the door is not closed. It is just not open right now. Staying fit and consistent at club level is the clearest path back into the conversation, and how he responds to this setback will say a lot about where his international career goes next.
Originally published by NotJustOk.