Few seats left on the plane

With the next edition of the UEFA European Championship just around the corner, and with initial squads set to be announced, many Premier League players have picked up form at just the right time in a bid to secure their places in the 26-player squads for the summer showpiece.

Although players such as Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden will most certainly be on the plane to Germany, there are a couple of high scoring fantasy football players that do not have the same guarantee. Managers with a luxury of talent at their disposal like Gareth Southgate, Roberto Martinez, and Didier Deschamps have a few spots to fill in their squads and some tough decisions to make.

Cole Palmer – Chelsea – England

Mauricio Pochettino’s men have been called Cole Palmer FC on more than one occasion this season, such has been their reliance on their summer signing from Manchester City. Palmer has not just been a high-scoring asset for fantasy football managers, but the Chelsea midfielder has also been one of the bargains of the season. Palmer’s value has not even got close to passing the 7.0 mark and it is understandable why over 50% of FF managers have put their faith in the 22-year-old.

However, the question for the upcoming tournament is if Gareth Southgate will also back Palmer to shine on the biggest stage. Southgate is blessed with a plethora of attacking talent, but tournament football is a squad game, and it would take a brave manager to overlook a player with so many goals and assists this season for an underperforming team. Palmer was named in the recent squad for the friendly matches against Brazil and Belgium but did not make an appearance in either match.

Chances: HIGH

Jean-Philippe Mateta & Michael Olise – Crystal Palace – France

The appointment of Oliver Glasner at Crystal Palace has transformed the fortunes of Mateta and Olise in front of goal, with the former especially benefiting from the change of system. With the duo, alongside Eberechi Eze, playing narrower, the two uncapped Frenchmen are getting more sights of goal, which is reflected in the number of goals and assists both players have contributed in the brief time Glasner has been in the dugout.

Like England, France is also blessed with an attractive array of attacking talent and is second favourites behind England in the current odds for Euro 2024 glory, but with the squad sizes increased to 26 players, one of these two might sneak into Didier Deschamp’s squad.

Chances: UNLIKELY

Tyrick Mitchell – Crystal Palace – England

Another Crystal Palace player making a late break for the Euros is left back, Tyrick Mitchell. With Luke Shaw and Ben Chilwell enduring injury-hit campaigns, Southgate is currently light in the left back department, which could open the door for Mitchell. The tough-tackling defender has also enjoyed more freedom at left wing-back in Glasner’s three-man defence system and even popped up with a goal in the recent 4-0 win over Manchester United.

Chances: DEPENDENT ON INJURY TO LUKE SHAW