Alan Shearer questions Cole Palmer's England squad withdrawal: 'I don't understand'

Palmer was one of five players to pull out of international duty at the beginning of the week, with Arsenal star Declan Rice, Manchester United duo Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo and Newcastle's Tino Livramento joining Palmer in staying at home.

England captain Harry Kane revealed on Wednesday that Rice had personally reached out to explain his decision to withdraw, though insisted there was no need to, and the striker also confirmed that Palmer had not been in touch.

The given reason for Palmer's withdrawal is "load management", but Shearer has queried that given Chelsea's lack of European football this season and the player having the summer off after being overlooked by England for the World Cup.

Cole Palmer

PA

Kane has previously voiced his frustration at players opting out of England duty, and Shearer agrees.

"I think at every opportunity you have to go and play for England," he told Betfair. "You can't just turn up for World Cups or Euros or whatever.

"We don't know, and we're speculating, but it's a lot of players to pull out, isn't it? Rice, I guess, his withdrawal is because of the amount of football he's played. It does look as if he's nursing something.

"The others, I don't know their situation, but that's a lot of players to be pulling out. However, what it does do is give others the opportunity to stake their claim. Someone like Morgan Gibbs-White has the chance now because [England head coach Thomas] Tuchel’s words were, well, there's too many 10s.

"Well, one's pulled out. Now he's got his opportunity. You can imagine if he goes in there and does well, scores, puts in a really good performance, then the manager would have to pick him for the next squad because of that and that's the opportunity he's now got.

"The one I don’t understand is Cole Palmer’s withdrawal from the squad. I get that you have to manage your body, but he's not played a lot of football and he's not going to play a lot of football with Chelsea not being in Europe this season.

“So, without knowing all of the reasoning, that one is the standout one for me, especially when he wasn't at the World Cup."