Roy Keane has told England fans to 'forget about' Cole Palmer taking them to another level, accusing him of having 'bad habits'. After missing out on the World Cup this summer, Chelsea star Palmer was recalled to the Three Lions' squad by Thomas Tuchel but controversially pulled out because of a minor injury.
Keane's criticism of Palmer
Tuchel subsequently said that the 24-year-old 'misses too many camps' due to fitness problems. Ahead of England's 3-2 loss at home to Spain on Saturday, Keane weighed in on where Palmer's England career stands.
"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," the Manchester United legend declared on ITV. "I like Palmer, he's a talented boy, but he's got far too many bad habits for me."
Tuchel's response and options
Tuchel called up Morgan Gibbs-White as a replacement for Palmer, who was one of five players to withdraw from the initial squad. Gibbs-White, 26, came on as a late substitute in the defeat to Spain and is expected to have the chance to impress during England's next three games.
But England aren't short of options in the No.10 role, as Tuchel said: "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."
The England manager went on to say: "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."
Missed opportunities
"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."
"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."
