Gareth Southgate explains why he’s been picking Arsenal winger over Chelsea star

Gareth Southgate feels Bukayo Saka is ‘more direct’ than Cole Palmer (Picture: Getty)

England boss Gareth Southgate has explained why he’s been picking Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka over Chelsea star Cole Palmer thus far at Euro 2024.

Saka has started all three of England’s games at Euro 2024 so far against Serbia, Denmark and Slovenia while Palmer has only appeared once from the bench.

Across his three matches, Saka, 22, has provided one assist and he is yet to get himself on the scoresheet for the Three Lions.

That has seen many England fans and pundits call for Southgate to replace Saka with Palmer in the XI going forward at the tournament in Germany.

Southgate, though, has provided three reasons why he’s been picking Saka over Palmer – insisting the Arsenal star is more direct, more experienced and is faster.

‘Slightly different players, but both of them favour their left foot and coming in, rolling off the right wing,’ Southgate said.

‘Bukayo perhaps is more direct, more speed and more experienced, clearly.

Bukayo Saka has provided just one assist across three games (Picture: Getty)

‘Cole is adapting well to, firstly, the Premier League this season and then life with us as well.

‘So we are very happy with both players. Both have contributed really well and you want your changes to make a difference.

‘In the last couple of games, I think our attacking changes have made a difference to how the team has played.’

Palmer has just enjoyed an incredible debut campaign at Chelsea after the Blues signed him from Manchester City last summer.

He even broke Eden Hazard’s Chelsea record for the most goals and assists in a single Premier League season.

Palmer, 22, finished the 2023-24 campaign with a remarkable 22 goals and 11 assists across 34 Premier League games.

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