Morgan Rogers Defends Cole Palmer's Commitment to England

Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Rogers has dismissed rumors regarding Cole Palmer's commitment to the England national team as completely false. Speaking to BBC Radio 5Live, Rogers defended his childhood friend and Chelsea teammate, calling accusations that the attacking midfielder is uninterested in representing his country "a lie" and "nonsense."

Palmer, 24, has faced a difficult period with injuries, making only three appearances under England head coach Thomas Tuchel during a disrupted 2025-26 campaign. His physical struggles led to him missing the September-October camps, prompting Tuchel to remark that the player "misses way too many camps." Tuchel also acknowledged it was hard to argue against suggestions that Palmer might not be fully desperate to be involved, ultimately leaving him out of the November UEFA Nations League squad in favor of options like Rogers, Jude Bellingham, Morgan Gibbs-White, Eberechi Eze, and Josh King.

Rogers explained that Palmer dealt with a low point mentally due to injuries last season and must protect his long-term career. He emphasized that the absences stem strictly from physical management rather than any reluctance to pull on the Three Lions shirt. Palmer currently has 14 caps for England, including a goal in the 2024 European Championship final against Spain, though he missed out on Tuchel's World Cup squad.

What to watch next: Monitor Palmer's fitness and potential return to future international windows as Tuchel evaluates his options in the No. 10 role.