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Tuchel explains Palmer exclusion from England squad
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- Tuchel explains Palmer exclusion from England squad
Tuchel explains Palmer exclusion from England squad
Thomas Tuchel says that Cole Palmer has missed "too many opportunities to impress" after leaving the Chelsea star out of his latest England squad.
The German coach named a 25-man squad on Friday ahead of the upcoming international break . The Three Lions wrap up their UEFA Nations League campaign with a home game against Croatia and a trip to Spain to take on the world champions.
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Despite being fit and available, and in good form this season, Tuchel has chosen to call up Fulham 's Josh King over Palmer , who withdrew from the most recent camp for the extended three-week window in September and October.
The England boss explained that he wanted to keep with the playmakers who were in the team last month, adding that King can provide some versatility.
"We have enough number 10s and we stick to the guys who were in the previous camp because we were happy with the two and a half weeks we had together," Tuchel said.
"We have Josh King as a new player in there, but I want to see him on both wings. He is kind of an extra player and he can play all four positions."
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Tuchel explains Palmer exclusion from England squad
Palmer was omitted from the squad that went to the FIFA World Cup in the summer and hasn't played for the national team since March. Tuchel wants to continue with the "extraordinary" bond that was built between the players during the last international break.
"I guess everyone is desperate to play for England and Cole is no exception," he said. "We are speaking now about a player that is not in camp. It counts when you are in camp and I just said last time that he misses too many opportunities to impress. It was a long camp, it was two and a half weeks and the players and the boys who were in camp built something extraordinary.
"That's why the credit goes to them, the trust is for them. If you are in camp, this is your chance to impress.
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"So it's not personal and of course we will never assume that Cole is not in the mindset to come and desperate to play for his country, but the competition is on and the players who were in camp did an amazing job and kept their place."
King has received his first England call-up after making an impressive start to the Premier League campaign for Fulham. The 19-year-old, who was part of the training squad for the World Cup, has only registered two goals and assists this term, but he has more touches in the opposition box that any other player in the top flight thus far.
"He is just a fantastic character. He gives us a bit of flexibility," Tuchel added.
"We decided to nominate 22 outfield players for flexibility in training and he is the extra player in training, if you will.
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"He is an exciting player, a versatile player. In pre-season he helped us in training as a full back but we will not do that again.
"It is the attitude and the personality."
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