England new boy Cole Palmer ready to show penalty prowess for country
England’s penalty problems are well documented but fearless new boy Cole Palmer says he will gladly step up to the spot when the heat is on.
The 21-year-old has scored four penalties in his last six appearances for Chelsea, including Sunday’s stoppage-time equaliser in the 4-4 draw with former club Manchester City.
“I missed a penalty in the Youth Cup final when we lost to Liverpool (in 2019),” Palmer said of his spot-kick record.
“I remember one when I was dead, dead young versus United. Those are the two I remember (missing).”
Asked if he would take a penalty, even if coming on especially for a shootout as England players were in the Euro 2020 final, the confident forward said: “Yeah, I would be (up for that).”
Palmer did, though, draw the line at asking England’s all-time top scorer Kane for a penalty after he received a first senior call-up for this month’s Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia.
But the 21-year-old had no qualms about taking control at club level, having asked long-term mentor Raheem Sterling for the chance to open his Chelsea account against Burnley last month.
“It was just an in-game thing, really, and then once I scored at Burnley I just thought I’ll take them from here,” he said.
“The ball just came to me, and I looked at Raz because he won it and he just said ‘take it’.”
Palmer has not looked back since that Turf Moor goal, leading to plaudits aplenty and his first call-up after a handful of withdrawals from already qualified England’s initial selection.
Despite that, 82-cap forward Sterling remains on the outside looking in having been overlooked by Southgate once again.
“When I was coming through at City he helped me a lot,” Palmer said of Sterling. “He told me bits of
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