Chelsea manager Habi Alonso has praised Cole Palmer for prioritising his recovery over a call-up to the England squad this international break.
We were cautious, and he was cautious; he wanted to make this decision himself.
Alonso emphasised that the attacking midfielder would not have been able to perform at his peak due to health concerns.
He wouldn’t have played the way he wants to. Sometimes it's better to take a step back, wait until you feel better, and do things the right way. There's always a risk. There was a risk with Morgan Rogers, but nothing happened. With Jamie Gittens, there was a risk, and we've lost him for a few weeks. With Cole, we made the right choice.
Jamie Gittens picked up an ankle injury while on duty with the England U21s, sidelining him for several weeks. In contrast, Cole Palmer has made good use of the break to recover and will be fully fit to start for Chelsea in their upcoming match on Saturday.
