Cole Palmer could be on course for a return to the England squad after rediscovering his best form at the start of the 2026/2027 season.
The Chelsea midfielder endured a difficult period last season, with his performances dropping significantly compared with his previous level. That decline ultimately contributed to Palmer being left out of England’s squad for the 2026 World Cup.
Now, however, the 24-year-old has responded in impressive fashion.
Under new Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso, Palmer has quickly regained his sharpness and attacking influence. His early-season numbers have also strengthened the case for another opportunity with the Three Lions.
According to The Sun, Palmer has scored two goals and provided two assists in his first four Premier League appearances of the new campaign.
Those contributions have put his name back into the conversation ahead of Thomas Tuchel’s latest England squad announcement.
Cole Palmer Finds His Form Again at Chelsea
Palmer’s start to the 2026/2027 campaign represents a significant change from the previous season.
The Chelsea midfielder was previously one of the notable absentees from England’s World Cup squad after struggling to maintain his best level for the Blues.
Rather than allowing that disappointment to derail him, Palmer has responded by making an immediate impact under Alonso.
His four Premier League matches have produced:
- Two goals
- Two assists
- Four goal contributions
- A return to the England selection conversation
The numbers underline Palmer’s influence in Chelsea’s attack during the opening stages of the campaign.
His form has arrived at an important time, too, with England preparing for their first international squad announcement following the World Cup.
Thomas Tuchel Could Hand Palmer Another Chance
Thomas Tuchel is scheduled to announce his latest England squad on Friday, September 18, 2026.
Palmer is reportedly expected to be among the players considered for selection after his strong start with Chelsea.
The potential return would represent an important moment for the midfielder. Missing the 2026 World Cup was a major setback, but his current performances have given him an opportunity to put himself back into Tuchel’s plans.
England’s upcoming schedule could also provide Palmer with an important platform if he is selected.
The Three Lions are set to play four Nations League matches during the next international break, including fixtures against Spain, Croatia and the Czech Republic across home and away games according to the competition schedule provided.
With several matches ahead, Tuchel will need attacking players capable of contributing in different situations.
Two Young Players Also Under Consideration
Palmer is not the only player expected to attract attention from Tuchel.
Two younger players, Liverpool winger Rio Ngumoha and Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott, are also reportedly in contention for the latest England squad.
Both players were previously part of the group involved in England’s preparations before the World Cup.
Ngumoha has already made his senior international debut despite being only 17 at the time.
The Liverpool winger came off the bench during England’s 1-0 friendly victory over New Zealand in Florida.
Now 18, another England call-up would give Ngumoha further opportunities to continue his development at senior level.
Scott, meanwhile, is now 23 and plays in midfield for Bournemouth.
Their potential inclusion highlights Tuchel’s willingness to continue assessing players while building his squad for the next phase of England’s international cycle.
Tuchel Expected to Select a Smaller Squad
The latest England squad is expected to be significantly smaller than the group Tuchel selected before the World Cup.
The German coach is reportedly likely to name around 25 or 26 players for the upcoming international window.
That would be considerably fewer than the 35 players selected for the friendly matches against Uruguay and Japan in March.
The larger squad at that time allowed Tuchel to give several players an opportunity to make their case before the World Cup.
With the tournament now completed, the selection process could become more focused.
For Palmer, that makes his early-season form particularly important as he looks to regain his place among England’s regular options.
Several England Players Could Miss the International Break
Tuchel will also have to deal with several fitness concerns when selecting his latest squad.
John Stones remains unavailable because of a thigh injury, while Djed Spence has yet to play this season due to fitness problems. Dan Burn is also facing a similar situation.
Spence is expected to miss the upcoming international break.
Harry Maguire is another player who is not expected to return to the England squad at this stage. The defender previously spoke openly about his surprise and disappointment after being left out of the World Cup squad.
The goalkeeper position also presents some questions for Tuchel.
Dean Henderson is unavailable because of an ankle injury, while Nick Pope and Aaron Ramsdale have not been playing regularly.
Carl Rushworth Could Receive His First England Call-Up
The goalkeeping situation could create an opportunity for Coventry City goalkeeper Carl Rushworth.
Rushworth is reportedly in contention for his first senior England call-up and could provide additional competition behind Jordan Pickford and James Trafford.
His potential inclusion would be another interesting development in Tuchel’s latest squad selection.
With several established players unavailable or lacking regular playing time, the England manager may have to look at alternative options.
That could also influence the composition of the squad in other positions, particularly if Tuchel wants players arriving in good form for the Nations League fixtures.
Cole Palmer Has a Chance to Start a New Chapter
For Cole Palmer, the potential England return would mark another step in his response to a difficult previous campaign.
The Chelsea midfielder missed the 2026 World Cup, but his early performances under Xabi Alonso have quickly changed the conversation around him.
Two goals and two assists in four Premier League appearances have given Palmer a strong platform to compete for selection again.
Whether Tuchel ultimately includes him in the squad will be confirmed when the England manager announces his players.
For now, Palmer’s revival at Chelsea has put his international future back into focus.
After missing out on the biggest tournament, the 24-year-old now has an opportunity to begin a new chapter with England if his latest form earns him another call-up.
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