Will Cole Palmer join England’s World Cup squad?

Palmer’s vulnerable style masks a pressure-resistant temperament, as proven at Euro 2024.

“One of his biggest assets, and this is not a disparaging remark at all, is that he doesn’t think. He just does what he does. He won’t toughen up,” Upson said.

He added: “We saw the perfect example in the 2024 European Championship final. He does everything naturally and that is very strong in high-pressure moments, which England will endure at some point in the World Cup.”

“I don’t know if there’s much better than Palmer in that regard.”

Nevin insists that no one should be fooled by Palmer’s casual style.

“There are a lot of different ways to play football,” he says. “Just because the veins in your forehead aren’t always showing, or you’re not shaking your fist at people for 90 minutes, it doesn’t mean you’re not fully engaged. You can still be incredibly calm and competitive.

He added: “He seems to be going along, but look at his numbers and his impact.

“Cole Palmer has a little bit of everything. He has great dribbling ability. He is amazing in tight spaces surrounded by two or three players, and creates more space when there doesn’t seem to be any.

“At his best, I think Palmer is world class. He would definitely be in my team and if all things were equal, I would be very tempted to start him.

He added: “He just needs to spend two or three months at his best, then I can’t imagine Tuchel won’t take him.”