Xabi Alonso backs Cole Palmer’s England commitment after latest injury withdrawal

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso says Cole Palmer remains committed to England despite withdrawing from the squad because of a recurring groin injury.

Palmer was selected by England manager Thomas Tuchel for UEFA Nations League fixtures against Spain, the Czech Republic and Croatia. However, the 24-year-old forward pulled out after the problem flared up again.

Tuchel had criticised Palmer’s repeated absences, saying the Chelsea attacker “misses too many opportunities” to represent England.

Alonso rejected any suggestion that Palmer’s commitment to his country should be questioned, while acknowledging that the player must be fully fit before returning to international football.

“He’s committed but he needs to be fully fit to play. We need him – the club and the national team,” Alonso said.

The Chelsea manager said Palmer had also experienced difficulties with the injury during the recent match against Brentford, meaning his immediate priority had been recovery.

“He’s been feeling better this week. We used the first two weeks for him to recover. It’s a little bit from the pubalgia (groin injury) he had,” Alonso said.

Palmer’s ongoing fitness issues have interrupted his development and previously contributed to him missing out on England’s World Cup squad, after the injury affected his form.

Chelsea will now hope the forward is fit enough to feature when they host Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday.

Alonso’s team go into the match in 10th place, with Bournemouth 17th. Both sides are seeking to improve their positions in the league.