How Cole Palmer became England’s Player of the Year despite his limited time on pitch

Cole Palmer has won an award for his achievements for England over the last year, despite being given only two starts by former Three Lions manager Gareth Southgate.

Cole Palmer was voted England Men’s Player of the Year this week, despite his minimal appearances for the Three Lions.

Fans voted for Chelsea forward Palmer ahead of Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka, who finished second and third, respectively. Palmer, 22, made his Wembley debut in November 2023 with a 2-0 win over Malta and scored in the Euros final against Spain as a substitute.

He was particularly popular with fans due to his social media appearances and interviews, which were the most seen and watched by any England player during the Euros. The accolade was accessible to all England players who had appeared in 50% or more senior fixtures between September 2023 and July 2024, and Saka earned it in 2022 and 2023.

Mirror Football looks back on the year and assesses Palmer’s incredible climb with the Three Lions, despite only starting twice in nine matches under Gareth Southgate’s supervision.

A quiet start.

Palmer earned his England debut as a 61st-minute substitute against Malta at Wembley Stadium on November 17, 2017. The Chelsea man had a low-key start in a dreary team effort that included no shots on goal in the first half.

Palmer’s acceptance was quick, and his move to Chelsea undoubtedly helped, with his debut coming after six goals and four assists in 14 games for his new team. His contribution to England’s under-21 team was equally significant, since he had previously helped them win the European Under-21 Championship four months prior.

Following a dismal performance against Malta, Gareth Southgate was relieved to have something good to point to. “I thought Trent [Alexander-Arnold], Phil [Foden] and Marc Guehi were good and Cole Palmer coming on for his debut had a good impact,” Southgate told the BBC. “There are some advantages, but we are aware that we are not where we want or can be.

Earning Southgate’s trust.

Palmer’s second England debut came soon after, in a 1-1 draw with North Macedonia. Again, England had a lackluster performance, and Palmer was only introduced in the 84th minute, leaving him little opportunity to flourish.

Southgate stated after the match that Palmer and his former Manchester City teammate Rico Lewis had given him “plenty to think about” as crowd anger grew.

Lift off.

England’s first start came in a 3-0 friendly victory against Bosnia in preparation for Euro 2024. Palmer honored the occasion with his first international goal, netting a penalty after Ezri Konsa was brought down from a corner. He buried it and unleashed his signature “Cold Palmer” celebration.

With his first England goal, he had now scored in the Premier League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, European Super Cup, Community Shield, and international football before the age of 22. However, it was Eberechi Eze’s performance that attracted Southgate’s attention the most, and the England manager also provided some criticism: “A couple of times, Cole was being too precise, and if he got his shots away earlier, maybe he could’ve got a couple.”

Booed off!

Palmer was awarded another start four days later, as England’s Euro 2024 preparations concluded with a friendly against Iceland at Wembley Stadium on June 7. It did not go well, as the Three Lions’ bogey team returned to bother them.

Palmer was as culpable as the rest of his squad for falling short, squandering some of his team’s finest chances in a 1-0 loss that saw England booed at the final whistle. He had made the Euros’ 26-man roster, but hadn’t done enough to earn a starting spot.

Frustration

Palmer did not come off the bench in either the 1-0 win against Serbia or the 1-1 draw with Denmark, as Southgate chose Jarrod Bowen, Ollie Watkins, and Eze as replacements. He made his Euro 2024 debut in the terrible 0-0 draw against Slovenia, coming on as a 71st-minute replacement for Saka.

He pushed Jan Oblak into a save, which fueled calls from experts and supporters for him to be handed more opportunities. Palmer appeared “sharp” to Southgate, but ex-players were more positive. Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart stated, “Cole Palmer looked extremely fantastic; what a wonderful player. He makes things happen without appearing to make an effort; he is fascinating to watch.” Chris Sutton was more clearer: “One thing we learned from this match is that Cole Palmer must start.”

Southgate inquired

“Personally, I believe I am prepared, but it is not up to me,” Palmer stated before the Slovakia game. “I just wait for my time and when I get on I just try to do what I do.‌”

Despite Sutton’s assurance and his personal confidence, Palmer did not start England’s next match, the first knockout round against Slovakia. However, he was the first man called off the bench when Southgate replaced Kieran Trippier with Palmer in the 66th minute, with Slovakia leading 1-0.

Bellingham’s magnificent overhead kick in the 95th minute forced extra time, where Harry Kane completed the comeback to bring England through despite their lack of convincing performance.

“Cool as an old man.”

Palmer stayed on the bench for the second quarterfinal game against Switzerland, but once again made an important impact, scoring the first penalty in a shootout triumph after a 1-1 draw.

Palmer’s swagger and confidence had gone viral at this point, but Southgate had an unusual perspective on how easily he buried his penalty. “Cole, he’s like an old man isn’t he the way he’s fearless,” he went on. “So huge performance, huge result for us, and we’re still in it.”

Impact from the bench.

Southgate stuck with his tried-and-true lineup in the semi-final against the Netherlands, putting Saka and Phil Foden out wide. Palmer came on for Watkins with the score at 1-1 in the 80th minute, and it turned out to be a masterstroke.

Palmer found the Aston Villa striker in the right channel, and Watkins did the rest, firing a low winner in the 90th minute to advance England to the final. “Sometimes it can work that way,” Southgate told ITV. “The most important thing is that all of the squad is ready to come into the game.”

Goal in loss.

Palmer had to be happy with his role as an impact replacement in the final against Spain after failing to displace Saka, Foden, or Bellingham from Southgate’s starting lineup. He came on for Kobbie Mainoo in the 70th minute in Berlin and scored the equalizer three minutes later, looping into the bottom corner from the outside of the box.

It wasn’t enough, as Mikel Oyarzabal scored Spain’s winner in the 86th minute, but Palmer’s place in the Three Lions was now guaranteed. He missed Lee Carsley’s first two matches due to injury, but he is largely regarded as the most entertaining player in the squad right now.

England’s future

“Every time I see him, he takes my breath away,” ex-England striker Gary Lineker stated recently on Match of the Day. “Of all the talented players England have got, he might be the best of the lot.”

Theo Walcott, a former England rising star with a lot of excitement surrounding him, agrees. “You can’t leave him out of any team, including England,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live. “He is so skilled that he will exude awe, making players fear him. If he continues to play like this, he will become a Premier League icon.