Gary Lineker has named Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka and Chelsea star Cole Palmer as his two ‘favourite’ England players.
Despite only turning 23 in September, Saka has already made 43 appearances for England and played in both of their European Championship final defeats.
There were fears missing a penalty in the Euro 2020 final would affect Saka’s development but the 23-year-old has put that painful night behind him and continued to impress for club and country.
Palmer is a year younger than Saka but has also established himself as an England regular over the past year since leaving Manchester City to join Chelsea.
The Premier League Young Player of the Year for 2023-24 came off the bench to score in the Euro 2024 final before Spain found a late winner to break England’s hearts.
Palmer was a revelation in his first season at Stamford Bridge – scoring 25 goals in all competitions – and has 17 goal involvements in 15 Premier League appearances this season.
Lineker, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards were asked on The Rest is Football podcast who they would pick out of Saka and Palmer and were left scratching their heads before attempting to answer.
‘That’s a nice easy one!’ all-time Premier League top goalscorer Shearer joked. ‘You would play them both, wouldn’t you?
‘You’d get both of those in the team. Both of their attitudes are great. Saka gets kicked every week and just gets on with it, and Palmer is just so bloody cool.’
Lineker then said: ‘This is exactly why I never wanted to be a manager! I love both of those players.
‘I think they’re probably my two favourites English players that play in the Premier League at the present time…
‘As for the question, I don’t know, I really don’t know. I might just go with Palmer because I think he can play in more positions. That’s the only reason I’ve got.’
Saka’s Arsenal are currently third in the Premier League as they bid to win the title for the first time since 2004.
Palmer has helped Chelsea enjoy a brilliant start to life under new manager Enzo Maresca, with the Blues second in the English top-flight and top of the Europa Conference League.
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