Cole Palmer takes his biggest step yet but England’s other fringe players fail to fire
The IndependentSign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for free Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. A friendly win over Bosnia and Herzegovina may cement Palmer’s place in Gareth Southgate’s final 26-man squad; not merely for his penalty-taking prowess – though that could prove handy in Germany – but a performance where he had come to look like England’s likeliest source of a goal even before he scored one. open image in gallery Cole Palmer got England going with the opening goal from the penalty spot But Palmer took a bigger step forward than either. In England’s first game at St James’ Park since 2005, they brought Cole to Newcastle and he brought a goal. open image in gallery Trent Alexander-Arnold produced a lovely finish to double England’s lead Meanwhile, Conor Gallagher got a run-out in the deepest role in midfield; as Southgate has admitted they are over-reliant on Declan Rice and it pointed to the Chelsea player being a potential deputy.