Alonso links Palmer's England absence to groin problem and confirms recovery

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has attributed Cole Palmer's latest England withdrawal to a recurrence of discomfort linked to his previous groin problem, while insisting the attacker remains committed to international football. According to the Guardian, Alonso said Palmer had benefited from rest during the international break and was fit for Saturday's match against Bournemouth.

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The explanation follows criticism from England manager Thomas Tuchel after Palmer made himself unavailable for the opening matches of the Nations League campaign last month. Tuchel questioned the 24-year-old's desire to join the squad and expressed frustration about his repeated absences. Palmer has made five England appearances since his goal against Spain in the Euro 2024 final.

The Guardian reported that persistent groin pain disrupted Palmer's previous season and contributed to his omission from Tuchel's World Cup squad. He then experienced a smaller flare-up before Chelsea lost to Brentford last month. Alonso said the difficulty was visible during that game, and that Palmer's ability to perform for both club and country depended on being fully fit.

Alonso described the latest issue as connected to Palmer's earlier pubalgia. He said Chelsea had devoted the first two weeks of the break to recovery and that the player had felt better this week. The report described the recent discomfort as less severe than last season's problem, when Palmer had difficulty shooting, while noting that the condition still required careful management.

A return to club action does not yet establish whether Palmer will be included in England's next squad. Tuchel has several options in attacking midfield, and Palmer's selection for next month's fixtures against Croatia and Spain remains undecided. Asked about the relationship between international recognition and elite status, Alonso said consistent high-level club performances would ordinarily lead to national-team involvement.

Palmer has scored four goals for Chelsea this season, but the club have gone three league matches without a victory. His improved fitness gives Alonso another attacking option as they seek to end that run. The manager also expressed hope that Reece James, Moisés Caicedo and Marco Palestra could return against Bournemouth; their availability was not confirmed in the report.