Cole Palmer is one of those players that seems to have burst onto the football scene and risen to the very top of the game in just a few short years.

He famously swapped Man City for Chelsea last summer and I don’t think anyone would have expected him to reach such crazy heights this quickly. In his first season at Stamford Bridge, Palmer scored 27 goals in all competitions and also grabbed 15 assists, making him the standout player for the Blues.

The numbers tell a story but his approach to the game and calmness that earned him the nickname Cold Palmer make him a very interesting player. He was awarded the PFA Young Player of the Year last season and has also just been voted England’s best player of the year ahead of Jude Bellingham.

I think a little while ago many people would have backed Jude for that award for his impact for England but Palmer has beaten him to it and it’s safe to say that England appear to be in very good hands. Knowing that both are a joy to watch, with Bellingham has started the season with fewer goals than last seaosn as he plays deeper, while Palmer has continued to do what he did last season with the goals, even scoring 4 in one match a few weeks ago.

These guys are still so early in their careers, and that’s before you mention the likes of Saka, who won the award in the previous two seasons, or Phil Foden who has been a key for Man City’s success in recent years.

One of the big questions for Southgate when he was England manager was which of the attacking players at his disposal should he choose, and Palmer started on the bench in all of England’s games at the Euros, but I think now everyone would say Cole Palmer has to be included.

Palmer, Bellingham, Saka and Foden are four of the most exciting players in football right now and Lee Carsley will be hoping to get the best out of them in the International break. #mmlove