Speaking during an appearance on The Wayne Rooney Show on BBC, the Manchester United legend argued that Palmer would provide a stronger attacking option and a more reliable backup to Bukayo Saka than Madueke.
Rooney questioned whether Madueke had done enough this season to justify his inclusion in the England setup, despite Arsenal’s strong campaign.
According to him, Palmer has shown greater overall quality and consistency throughout the 2025/26 season.
“Cole? I would, yes, but that’s a decision he has made,” Rooney said while discussing manager Thomas Tuchel’s squad choices.
“And if you observe, it hasn’t turned out too poorly for Arsenal this season. Having Saka and Madueke as backup is sufficient.”
Although Rooney acknowledged that Tuchel’s selection decisions are ultimately based on tactical preferences, he maintained that Palmer’s ability and creativity could offer England more depth in attacking areas.
The debate surrounding Palmer’s omission intensified after Tuchel publicly explained why the Chelsea star was left out of the squad.
The England manager pointed to the midfielder’s recent dip in form and limited impact during international appearances under his leadership.
“I believe he suffers from, firstly, a deficiency in individual form at the club,” Tuchel said.
“He was not as decisive or influential as he had been in previous seasons throughout the entire season.”
Tuchel also suggested that Palmer had not taken his opportunities with the national team when available.
“Secondly, he was not particularly impactful with us,” the German coach added.
“His performance record with us was simply not remarkable, not sufficient to guarantee him a spot regardless of circumstances.”
The England boss further revealed that recurring injury problems had disrupted Palmer’s involvement with the squad.
“He withdrew several times, had to withdraw multiple times due to injury, and when he was in camp, he did not deliver the impact we all desired,” Tuchel explained.
Since Tuchel took charge of England in 2025, Palmer has struggled to make a significant impression at international level. The Chelsea attacker is yet to score in three appearances under the new manager and has also missed portions of the FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign because of fitness concerns.
Despite those challenges, many fans and pundits still regard Palmer as one of England’s most naturally gifted attacking players, especially after his standout performances for Chelsea over the last two seasons.
Rooney’s comments are likely to fuel further discussion over England’s squad depth and attacking options as Tuchel continues shaping his team ahead of upcoming international tournaments.