Fans are excited to watch Euro 2024, but the upcoming days are poised to be exciting for England fans as they anticipate Gareth Southgate’s announcement of his final Euro 2024 squad. However, one player who is almost certain to secure his place among the 26 heading to Germany is Chelsea’s Cole Palmer. Many believe he will be Southgate’s secret weapon in EURO 2024 in their squad for Euro 2024.
At just 22 years old, Palmer has made only three appearances for the national team, debuting in November. Yet, he is already being heralded as the Three Lions’ “secret weapon.” Southgate is set to trim seven players from his preliminary 33-man squad, and excluding Palmer would undoubtedly raise eyebrows. A player who wasn’t even considered last summer has rapidly become a key figure.
Southgate’s Secret Weapon in EURO 2024-Cole Palmer‘s Breakthrough Season
The football world was taken aback when Palmer made a £42.5 million switch from Manchester City to Chelsea on September 1. His season had already started promisingly, scoring for City in the Community Shield defeat to Arsenal and the UEFA Super Cup victory over Sevilla. These achievements followed his crucial role in England’s triumph at the European Under-21 Championship in Georgia.
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Many viewed Palmer’s departure from his boyhood club, Manchester City, where he had begun to break through, as a gamble. He had made 13 starts in a total of 41 senior appearances and was part of a team that had just clinched the Treble. However, with Pep Guardiola not willing to sanction a loan move, Palmer opted for a permanent switch to Chelsea, betting on his own potential—and he has certainly delivered.
Southgate’s secret weapon in EURO 2024: Cole Palmer scored 22 goals and provided 11 assists in 33 league games. He played an instrumental role in Chelsea’s recovery from a poor start to qualify for next season’s European Conference League. His extraordinary performance earned him the Premier League Young Player of the Season award.
Chelsea’s Player of the Year
Palmer became the first Chelsea player to be directly involved in over 25 goals in a single Premier League season since Eden Hazard’s tally of 31 in the 2018-19 season. In the recently concluded Premier League campaign, only Erling Haaland scored more goals than Palmer, and only Ollie Watkins provided more assists. Southgate’s secret weapon in EURO 2024-Cole Palmer’s combined total of goals and assists was unmatched by any other player from Europe’s big five leagues who started the season aged 21 or under.
This meteoric rise is remarkable for someone who was an unused substitute when City won the Champions League against Inter Milan in Istanbul just a year ago. Former Chelsea and Spain midfielder Cesc Fàbregas shared his admiration with BBC Sport:
I remember doing the Champions League final last summer. He was just warming up, being one of these young players coming up, enjoying the experience, not being looked at to feature in the game. And then all of a sudden—a big move to Chelsea. He starts performing at a very high level with a lot of quality and personality. He wants the ball, he makes things happen—the final pass, he scores goals. I was a little bit surprised by the move to Chelsea. I have to say I’ve been very impressed. Furthermore, I didn’t expect this type of impact, and he has been the player of the year without any doubt in Chelsea.
Cesc Fàbregas (Former Chelsea and Spain midfielder)
Cole Palmer – An International Weapon
While Southgate’s secret weapon in EURO 2024-Cole Palmer is expected to be part of Southgate’s squad for Euro 2024, his spot in the starting XI is not guaranteed. This might seem surprising given his impressive Premier League stats, but he faces stiff competition from the likes of Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka, James Maddison, Anthony Gordon, and Jarrod Bowen.
Primarily playing off the right, Palmer has demonstrated at Chelsea that he can be effective across the front line and even in a deeper midfield role. Former England defender Rio Ferdinand praised Palmer’s talent on TNT Sport:
He is a wonderful talent. He has been the center of attention in a couple of WhatsApp groups I’m involved in. One of my friends likened him to a Chris Waddle-type player. He has superb skill, his balance is mesmeric, it’s phenomenal. He is somebody that you look at with England. Likewise, he is a great option. He is somebody that not everybody will know too much about on the European stage or international stage. He could be another weapon, internationally.
Rio Ferdinand
Joe Cole, former England midfielder, echoed these sentiments: “The technicians are what are going to win us the tournament. They all have to go and they all have to have time on the pitch. Cole Palmer is an absolute genius.” He will undoubtedly be an extraordinary talent in UEFA Euro 2024.
Wrapping it Up
As the tournament approaches, Gareth Southgate’s decision to include Palmer could provide England with the creative spark needed to succeed on the international stage. Whether Southgate’s secret weapon in EURO 2024-Cole Palmer starts or comes off the bench, his impact is bound to be significant, making him a true asset and perhaps, Southgate’s secret weapon in the quest for European glory.