England interim head coach Lee Carsley is ready to fire Cole Palmer to the forefront of his efforts to be handed the job on a permanent basis.
Carsley will have the opportunity to select Palmer, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden for the first time when he names his squad for the UEFA Nations League games with Greece and Finland on Thursday.
Palmer and Foden withdrew from the interim boss’ first party for last month’s internationals against Ireland and Finland due to muscle fatigue and illness respectively, while Bellingham was also unavailable due to injury.
Chelsea forward Palmer, in particular, has had an impressive start to the season and Carsley is understood to be keen on providing the 22-year-old with a more prominent platform on the international stage than he was afforded by previous boss Gareth Southgate.
Competition for starting roles in England’s attacking midfielder is intense, with the likes of Foden, Bukayo Saka, Jack Grealish and Anthony Gordon all vying for regular slots. Bellingham was even used as No 10 at Euro 2024.
Cole Palmer looks primed for a bigger role in Lee Carsley’s England side coming up
Carsley worked with Palmer at Under-21 level and thinks he can step up into a bigger role
But Carsley rates Palmer’s ability very highly and is prepared to hand youngster, who he worked with at Under-21 level, a greater role at senior level.
Elsewhere, there is uncertainty over whether Kyle Walker will be named in the squad. Manchester City defender Walker wasn’t selected in Carsley’s previous collective because he had hardly played at that point in the season.
However, the right-back has featured more regularly under Pep Guardiola since then and any omission would raise questions over Walker’s long-term future at international level.
Kyle Walker is back in the team for Manchester City but could still be left out for England
Tottenham striker Dominic Solanke is fit following an early season injury and has scored three goals in three matches.
It is understood Carsley is yet to watch Ivan Toney in person since the former Brentford striker’s move to Saudi Arabia.
Aston Villa’s Morgan Rodgers has impressed during the early part of the season, while Carsley is a big admirer of Liverpool’s Curtis Jones – although it remains to be seen whether either midfielder makes the cut.