- The Chelsea star struggled to find his usual form in England’s recent fixtures
- Cole Palmer, Phil Foden and Harry Kane are all yet to show their best for England
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off!, available wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every Monday and Thursday
Cole Palmer is the latest England star that appears to be feeling the heavy weight of expectation that comes with playing for the Three Lions, believes Ian Ladyman.
The Chelsea star has begun the new Premier League season in sensational form, scoring six goals and registering five assists in just seven games, but struggled for England during the international break.
Two Nations League outings against Greece and Finland saw Palmer play as a creative midfielder and on the wing, but his Chelsea form was missing as England showed indifferent performances under interim boss Lee Carsley.
It was the same story for captain Harry Kane who has already notched 10 goals for Bayern Munich this season, while Phil Foden is yet to recreate his stunning form with Man City for England.
Former Premier League winner Chris Sutton and Mail Sport’s football editor Ian Ladyman debated why the 22-year-old is failing to replicate his club form on the international stage on It’s All Kicking Off.
Cole Palmer was just one of England’s attackers that struggled during the international break
Phil Foden (left) and Harry Kane (right) are facing an indifferent patch of form for England
Analysing Palmer’s recent performances, Ladyman said: ‘Our regard for Cole Palmer knows no bounds. We’ve talked about him so often on this podcast.
‘He comes to this camp, flying with Chelsea, scoring goals, creating goals, playing football like he’s like he could do it in his sleep. And yet he’s come through two international games and he’s left barely a footprint on either game.
‘I’m using Cole Palmer, I suppose, as a symptom of the problem rather than the problem. He’s just a, you it happens, doesn’t it? It’s happened with Foden, double player of the year last year, can’t seem to do it for England. And I can say Palmer comes into this international break, plays two games, and I can’t remember a single thing that he did,’ he added.
‘And I don’t know what where the nub of that problem is, but it’s a definite problem. It’s a definite problem. Harry Kane scores goals for Bayern Munich, comes to play for England and looks off the pace again.
Palmer has started the season with Chelsea in sensational form scoring six goals and registering five assists in just seven games
‘I’m just saying that it’s, that will be one of the first issues that a new England manager has to address. That shirt, England shirt still looks heavy for a few of those players,’ said Ladyman.
However, Sutton believes it is still too early to judge Palmer’s performances for England and insisted he needs to be given time to settle in the Three Lions camp.
‘But you’re talking about players who their club form is sensational,’ replied Sutton.
‘And when they put the England jersey on, we are talking about two games with Cole Palmer. Let’s not write him off.’