Gareth Southgate is preparing his England team to take on Serbia at Euro 2024 (Image: Getty)
Ex-England international Wayne Bridge has urged Gareth Southgate to pair Bukayo Saka with Cole Palmer on the flanks at Euro 2024. Palmer has only made four senior appearances for the Three Lions but his electrifying form at club level last season has thrust him into contention for a starting spot in Germany.
Southgate started Palmer in both the defeat to Iceland and the win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the lead-up to Euro 2024. But when all options are available, the 22-year-old is at risk of being dropped down to the bench for the tournament itself.
Bridge, who earned 36 England caps during his own accomplished career, would give Palmer plenty of minutes if he was in charge, and he wants to see the youngster alternating with Saka in wide areas.
"Cole Palmer, I'd love to see him get a lot of game time," Betfred's Euro 2024 ambassador, Bridge, told Express Sport. "I feel like he plays with a lot of freedom, he's confident, nothing fazes him, he's ice cold.
"He's great. I'd love to see him play on the wing switching with Saka, as long as you can get [Phil] Foden and [Jude] Bellingham in the midfield with [Declan] Rice holding. That would be what I'd do, just properly go for it. He's one I'd like to see get a lot of game time."
With 33 goal contributions in 34 matches during his debut season at Chelsea, Palmer was one of the Premier League's standout performers in 2023/24, and only Erling Haaland found the net more often.
Cole Palmer should be given regular game time at Euro 2024, according to Wayne Bridge (Image: Getty)
The fact he may not even get into Southgate's starting XI is a testament to England's strength in depth this summer. The Three Lions are among the favourites to win the tournament, but Bridge feels the back line could be their weak link.
Harry Maguire was deemed unfit to participate at Euro 2024 after a slow recovery from injury. Luke Shaw, meanwhile, is unlikely to feature at left-back until the latter part of the group stages, leaving an expected back-four of Kyle Walker, John Stones, Marc Guehi and Kieran Trippier against Serbia.
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
"I expect us to go quite far and we're expected to go quite far, but at the back is where we're missing someone really solid," Bridge continued.
"Attacking-wise we're great. We've had loads of good centre-backs for England so I just think we're missing someone really solid. That's no disrespect to the players that are there, I think they can still do a great job, but that's the only thing."
