Cole Palmer withdrew from Thomas Tuchel's latest injury squad due to a minor injury
Roy Keane
Roy Keane has not held back on his thoughts on Chelsea star Cole Palmer(Image: Kevin Hodgson/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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Roy Keane has sent a brutal message to Chelsea star Cole Palmer, telling him to 'forget' about being the difference for England against the best teams. The midfielder was recalled to the England squad by Thomas Tuchel for the current international break after missing out on this summer's World Cup.
The Chelsea man, however, withdrew from selection due to a minor injury. He was not available for selection for the Nations League clash vs Spain at Wembley and is not part of the squad for clashes vs Czechia (x2) and Croatia.
Palmer's decision to withdraw from the squad has led to comments from Tuchel, suggesting that he misses too many opportunities which could impact his England future. Speaking on ITV before England's 3-2 loss vs Spain, Keane launched a brutal comment the way of Palmer.
"I think, whatever his injuries - and if he is injured - I watched his last game against Brentford and if you think he's going to get England to another level and win trophies, forget about it," he said. "I like Palmer, he's a talented boy, but he's got far too many bad habits for me."
Tuchel drafted in Morgan Gibbs-White as cover for Palmer, who was one of five players to withdraw from the original squad. The Nottingham Forest man 26, came on as a late substitute in the defeat against Spain and is expected to be given the opportunity to impress across England's next three fixtures.
Nevertheless, England are hardly lacking in options in the No. 10 role, as Tuchel confirmed: "It leaves us with Jude Bellingham, Morgan Rogers, Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze in that position.
"All in camp. All desperate to be here. All available. And all ready to go, ready to stop a holiday (like Gibbs-White) after one day in Dubai. I am not his friend. I am his national team coach and I can only judge him on what he is delivering for the national team and he is just missing too many opportunities."
Cole Palmer before a Chelsea match
Cole Palmer withdrew from the England squad for the Nations League games(Image: Ryan Pierse, Getty Images)
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The England manager continued: "My understanding is that Cole plays with discomfort and pain and he cannot compete on the highest level with discomfort and pain, so he withdrew and informed us and Chelsea informed us."
"He misses too many opportunities, and I don't blame him for it. It's just the fact. He misses way too many camps with injuries and I only want to rely on what I personally witness and what I see within my team, and for that you have to be in camp.
"If you're not in camp, there's a next level to impress that you cannot achieve because you only can do it when you're actually with me on the pitch and with us on the pitch so, yeah, it is a missed opportunity.
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"What sticks with me is the week that I have with the others. They (the absentees) lose that. That sticks. It sticks because we create something. We actually work off the field, on the field, about our principles, on how to be in. This brotherhood is so important and you miss out if you're not there."
Palmer will hope to be fit enough to play in Chelsea's Premier League clash against Bournemouth on October 10 when domestic football returns after the extended break.