Cole Palmer’s early-season surge makes England recall look inevitable after World Cup snub

Cole Palmer scored England’s goal in the Euro 2024 final. Fourteen months later, he watched the 2026 World Cup from his couch. Now, barely a few weeks into the new Premier League season, the 24-year-old is making the strongest possible case that leaving him out was a mistake worth correcting.

Palmer has registered 4 goals and 2 assists in his first 6 appearances of the 2026/27 campaign under new Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso, a run of form that has placed him at the front of every conversation about which omitted star deserves a callback for England’s upcoming Nations League fixtures.

How Palmer ended up on the outside

When Thomas Tuchel named his 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup last May, Palmer’s absence was the loudest silence on the teamsheet. The Chelsea midfielder had endured an uneven 2025/26 season, battling a persistent groin injury that limited his output to 11 goals and 3 assists across all competitions. In the Premier League alone, he managed 10 goals and 1 assist in 26 appearances.

Tuchel framed the decision as a matter of balance rather than talent. He said his priority was constructing “the best possible team” rather than simply selecting the most skilled individuals. The alternatives he leaned on, players like Jude Bellingham, Morgan Rogers, and Eberechi Eze, offered what the manager felt was a better tactical fit for his system.

The Alonso effect

Chelsea’s decision to bring in Xabi Alonso appears to have provided Palmer with exactly the tactical environment he needed to rediscover his best form. Four goals and two assists from six outings is a pace that, if maintained, would dwarf his 2025/26 totals before Christmas. Palmer’s 11-goal haul last season came across the entirety of the year, all competitions included. He’s already more than a third of the way there in September.

Where this leaves Tuchel

The upcoming Nations League fixtures present a natural re-entry point. Palmer is widely considered the most likely recall candidate among the high-profile names Tuchel left out of his World Cup squad. Being 24, he’s not just a short-term fix. He’s a player around whom England could build attacking plans for the next decade.

Bellingham is firmly established as the centerpiece. Rogers and Eze both performed capably during the World Cup. As of September 17, 2026, media speculation around Palmer’s reconsideration for the England squad continues to grow in response to his improved club performance.