Morgan Rogers has defended Cole Palmer's commitment to the England squad and called on Thomas Tuchel to bring his Chelsea teammate back into the national team.
Rogers scored on Thursday evening as England secured their place in the Nations League quarter-finals with a 2-1 win over Croatia. The 24-year-old is the only Chelsea player in the squad for this international break, with Reece James injured and Palmer left out by Tuchel after withdrawing from the previous camp because of injury concerns.
Rogers backs Palmer after Tuchel comments
Speaking last week, Tuchel suggested Palmer 'misses too many opportunities' to play for his country but insisted the latest exclusion was 'not personal'. Rogers, however, wants to see his close friend back in the setup and dismissed suggestions that Palmer does not want to represent England as a 'lie'.
'He wants to be here,' Rogers told BBC Radio 5 Live. 'He wanted to get called up and he wanted to come and represent his country as he always has done. People just see it as news and say the easy thing.'
'We all know he had a difficult year last year with injuries and I know personally he's been managing them injuries ever since.'
Palmer's injury struggles
'He was in quite a low place with his injuries last year and didn't feel 100% himself on the pitch, so he wants to be here and he wants to be the best version of himself. Of course he does, who wouldn't?'
'But he also has to look at his body. He wants to play for 10/15 years, he also has to manage himself. If he has to manage himself in the short term for the greater good then he has to do that and you have to fully support it.'
'It has nothing to do with England or not wanting to play with England. It's a nonsense really that people are questioning someone that wants to play for England.'
Tuchel responds to Rogers' comments
'You see the joy and smile on his face, how much he loves the game, so I honestly don't get it and he doesn't get it. But it's something he has to deal with but I can assure you he wants to be here and he wants to play for his country.'
Asked whether Palmer should be back in the England setup for the next camp, Rogers said: 'Of course I do. What a player he is. What a person he is and it's someone you want to see in an England shirt.'
'He's got so much quality, so much ability. We all know what we can do, what he's done, so of course we want to see him in an England shirt and hopefully sooner rather than later.'
In his post-match press conference, Tuchel said: 'It's totally fine. It's his teammate and his friend so why wouldn't he make an emotional statement?'
'If he did it, I didn't hear it so I will not comment on it. All I can say is I was very happy with the emotional and physical commitment of Morgan Rogers – I think he was a standout player today, offensively and defensively and that's what matters.'
