Henry Winter questions England squad: Right to exclude Palmer, but why Eze selected?

talkSPORT reporter Henry Winter believes Tuchel was right to leave Cole Palmer out of the latest England squad because of a lack of commitment, but he questioned why Eberechi Eze was included given the strong competition for the No. 10 role.

Cole Palmer was not named in England's 25-man squad for the upcoming matches against Croatia and Spain, both of which will be broadcast live on talkSPORT. The Chelsea star had previously missed out on the World Cup squad and, despite being called up in September, withdrew with an injury. Tuchel told talkSPORT that he did not speak to Palmer before finalizing this squad.

Discussing the England manager's choices, Winter said he agreed with the decision not to call up Palmer. "I don't think Palmer should have been selected in the first place, and I completely side with Tuchel. This has nothing to do with his playing style. There's no doubt he's exceptionally talented, but the last time he got a national team call-up, the general feeling was that he was managing his workload. Before this England camp, he played a full 90 minutes in his last game for Chelsea, and Palmer started all four Premier League matches after the league restarted." "It's a shame, because we've seen his talent for England. He played in the European Championship final against Spain, and at the Club World Cup he gave a strong Paris Saint-Germain side a tough time. He has that ability, but playing for your country shouldn't be just about ability. Representing England is not a right, it's an honor."

"The core issue is that Palmer must be in top form and 100% willing to report for duty," Winter said. "I don't know if this is a personality issue. Tuchel said it's not a personal conflict. But in my opinion, this is about the national team and about commitment. Players must be willing to report even with minor injuries. Morgan Rogers always reports on time. Ben White, even when on vacation in Dubai, came straight back with his partner and recorded a heartwarming short video. The national team needs that kind of willingness to commit."

Winter then turned to England's depth at No. 10, saying Palmer will inevitably have questions after seeing Eze included in the squad. "England is not short of options at No. 10. Bellingham, Morgan Rogers and Ben White are also candidates. Josh King is in the squad too. He can play on the wing but is essentially a No. 10, and he performs consistently for Fulham. Palmer will most likely be puzzled by the squad list. Eberechi Eze is an excellent player who has performed consistently for Arsenal, especially with a standout display in the North London Derby. Tuchel's faith in him is the only questionable point in this selection debate. Otherwise, Tuchel's decision is entirely justifiable."