{"id":633693,"date":"2025-12-15T10:10:18","date_gmt":"2025-12-15T10:10:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/633693\/"},"modified":"2025-12-15T10:10:18","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T10:10:18","slug":"theo-walcott-explains-why-cole-palmer-could-miss-out-on-england-role-despite-scoring-on-return","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/633693\/","title":{"rendered":"Theo Walcott explains why Cole Palmer could ‘miss out’ on England role despite scoring on return"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Chelsea\u2019s season is in full swing, but World Cup chatter continues to bubble in the background and Cole Palmer\u2019s return has started a conversation. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Now a pundit for Sky Sports and the BBC, Theo Walcott is keeping a close eye on all the England hopefuls with the summer tournament fast approaching. <\/p>\n

Palmer scored at Stamford Bridge for the first time since May<\/a> as Chelsea grabbed an important win over Everton. <\/p>\n

Three months, 91 days, 2184 hours since Cole Palmer last scored, how good is that to see, Blues fans?<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\ud83d\udc47 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say <\/p>\n

While his return to the scoresheet was fantastic from a Chelsea<\/a> perspective, the performance of another attacking midfielder has sown doubts in the mind of the former Arsenal star. <\/p>\n

Theo Walcott has Morgan Rogers ahead of Cole Palmer for England<\/p>\n

Of all the selection dilemmas Thomas Tuchel<\/a> is being faced with, none is more divisive than the number 10 debate. <\/p>\n

Palmer is an obvious contender, but players like Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham and Eberechi Eze are all vying for that role. <\/p>\n

Ahead of them all is Morgan Rogers<\/a> in Walcott\u2019s eyes, whose brace at the weekend was just the latest impressive performance from the Aston Villa star. <\/p>\n

\"AstonPhoto by Catherine Ivill \u2013 AMA\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

As Walcott said on BBC\u2019s<\/a> Match of the Day: \u201cHe scored two fantastic goals and, for me, he is not just going to be in the squad next summer. He is a dead cert to be a starter for England at the World Cup \u2014100%.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe does everything, he\u2019s not just a goal threat. I like all [the contenders for the number 10 position], but one of them is going to have to miss out on the squad itself \u2013 and Rogers, for me, has to start.\u201d<\/p>\n

A good friend of Palmer\u2019s, the Villa star has emerged as a Premier League superstar since moving from Middlesbrough. <\/p>\n

Chelsea have looked at Rogers as a transfer target<\/a> for most of the time since, but his recent decision to extend with Unai Emery\u2019s side has caused that interest to cool.<\/p>\n

If Tuchel agrees with Walcott, it threatens to put the Chelsea star out of the frame for the World Cup<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers can play together <\/p>\n

The thing about having so much star talent to choose from is that quality players inevitably get left out in the cold. <\/p>\n

Tuchel was watching Palmer from the stands<\/a> at the weekend, and will have been encouraged by his getting on the scoresheet after just 20 minutes of play. <\/p>\n

He still isn\u2019t 100%, but Enzo Maresca<\/a> will begin to use him more and more as he regains match fitness. <\/p>\n

Maresca is delighted to have his star back \ud83d\ude4c <\/p>\n

How much does Cole Palmer’s return raise Chelsea’s ceiling this season?<\/p>\n

\"ColePhoto by HENRY NICHOLLS\/AFP via Getty Images <\/p>\n

\ud83d\udc47 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say <\/p>\n

The weaker part of England\u2019s squad is on the left flank. Anthony Gordon and Marcus Rashford offer a direct, pacey option, but Rogers is more than capable of playing there as well. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s going to depend on form going into June, but if Palmer<\/a> returns to his usual levels, there\u2019s no way Tuchel can leave him out of the squad. Even leaving him out of the starting XI could be a mistake that hurts England\u2019s World Cup campaign. <\/p>\n

Join Our Newsletter <\/p>\n

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