A must pick or unreliable? Tuchel's Palmer dilemma

Tuchel faces a selection dilemma over Palmer's England future as the Chelsea forward competes with Bellingham, Rogers and Eze for the number 10 role ahead of Nations League fixtures.

Cole Palmer's England status remains uncertain as Thomas Tuchel prepares to name his squad for November's Nations League matches against Croatia and Spain. The 24-year-old Chelsea forward has impressed domestically with five goals and three assists this season, but his international record under Tuchel tells a different story.

Palmer has made just three appearances for England under Tuchel, including two starts, without scoring or assisting. He was omitted from the World Cup squad, prompting Tuchel to criticise him for missing too many opportunities. Since then, Palmer has struggled with recurring groin problems that limited his availability during international breaks.

Competing for the number 10 role, Palmer faces stiff competition from Jude Bellingham (eight goals, six assists under Tuchel), Morgan Rogers (three goals, three assists) and Eberechi Eze (three goals, one assist). Phil Foden and Morgan Gibbs-White are also in contention. When penalties are excluded from Palmer's tally, he has been outscored by most rivals since the start of last season. The squad announcement comes Friday at 11:00 GMT.