Cole Palmer and Phil Foden are both pushing to be included in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad, to be announced on Friday, but neither player is certain to get in. The two attacking stars were both controversially left out for last summer’s World Cup, with Tuchel preferring Jude Bellingham, Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze in the number 10 role behind Harry Kane.
Tuchel's Mixed Signals on Palmer
Tuchel gave Palmer a lifeline after a barnstorming start to the 2026/27 season, calling him up for matches against Spain, Czechia and Croatia in September and October. However, the Chelsea star pulled out in contentious circumstances, leaving Tuchel to describe the decision as a “missed opportunity”.
“For sure it's a missed opportunity [for Palmer],” Tuchel said in September. “It's another missed opportunity. 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.”
Foden's Road Back
Foden was omitted from that squad completely, but has impressed in cameos for Manchester City this season as he attempts to work his way back in favour. Foden, now 26, recently admitted that he has had zero contact with Tuchel since before the World Cup.
In September, Foden was sent off in the Manchester derby and did not play again for over a month. He has delivered in spells this season, but is yet to win over Enzo Maresca either, who seemingly prefers Rayan Cherki behind Erling Haaland, with the likes of Antoine Semenyo and Iliman Ndiaye on the right wing.
“No, I haven’t really spoken to him to be honest, so not much to say on that,” Foden said of Tuchel. “Hopefully, one day the call-up might come back. It’s one of those things [being dropped]. Football is full of ups and downs. You have to try your best, keep putting on performances.”
Both players will learn their fates in Tuchel's Friday announcement.
