Michael Owen believes Cole Palmer should start for England instead of Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka.
Palmer has been one of the stories of the season following his deadline day move from Manchester City last summer.
The 22-year-old has quickly established himself as Chelsea’s go to man, and has scored 24 goals in his debut campaign at Stamford Bridge, with 21 of those coming in the Premier League.
Owen believes Palmer should start over Saka for England
Palmer’s form has seen him make his senior England debut last November against Malta, and you would expect him to part of Gareth Southgate’s final squad for the Euros this summer.
The versatile forward was back on the scoresheet against West Ham, and in doing so became only the third player aged 21 or under to register 30 goal contributions in a single Premier League season.
Palmer’s form has no doubt given Southgate a headache, and the England boss has so much attacking talent at his disposal with the likes of Phil Foden, Saka, Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane all expected to start this summer.
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However former England international Owen has said he would now start Palmer over Saka.
“I would now start Cole Palmer over Bukayo Saka”, Owen told Gambling Zone.
“I don’t think you can ignore Palmer’s form and quality any longer.
“I had him in my squad a few months ago but now he’s one of the best players in the Premier League.
“He might even get player of the year, possibly the Golden Boot, and that’s in a struggling team.
“So he’s now a must in my mind, I would play him on the right.
“I’d have Foden and him, one on the right and one central, then have Rice as a lone number 6, then Bellingham and Foden as 8s stroke 10s and Cole on the right.
“But it’s almost unthinkable that you couldn’t have Foden and Palmer in your team, they are two of our best three or four players.
“It is a challenge to fit them all in but in my team you do fit them all in, although Saka would miss out which is not easy to do.
“But he can still play a big part, if the final was tomorrow, I would put Palmer in the team.”
