Chelsea forward Cole Palmer has revealed that his unexpected exclusion from England's World Cup squad has fuelled his determination for the new season. The 24-year-old was a surprise omission from Thomas Tuchel’s squad, which reached the semi-finals before losing to Argentina.
Palmer, who watched the tournament from a family holiday in Marbella, admitted the snub has given him extra motivation. He told reporters in Sydney, "If someone tells you you’re essentially not good enough to get in the squad, then you’re going to think, ‘all right then, I’m going to try to go that extra bit harder’.”
Last season, Palmer played with a groin injury, which he believes affected his form and potentially cost him his World Cup spot. However, he confirmed, "I feel good now. The seven weeks (off) obviously helped. I’m ready to go again.”
Palmer recently came off the bench for Chelsea’s pre-season opener, a 6-4 victory over Western Sydney Wanderers, where he assisted Joao Pedro’s 85th-minute goal. He is set to face London rivals Tottenham on Saturday.