Alex Palmer should get England nod after West Brom form, forget Rangers
Since Bob Roberts made three appearances between 1887 and 1890, West Brom have seen 45 players capped by England on the international stage.
The most recent player to earn his international credentials due to his performances at The Hawthorns was goalkeeper Sam Johnstone in 2021, going on to play four games under Gareth Southgate.
And speaking of England caps, Rangers’ Jack Butland is the latest outsider to be linked with a call-up to Southgate’s team for Euro 2024, admitting via talkSPORT that he had met up with the manager and the England group last year.
Kris Boyd has warned that he “wouldn’t rule it out”, suggesting that Southgate may switch things up ahead of his Euro 2024 squad selection.
There is no denying that the Rangers ‘keeper has been sensational this season since his free transfer from Manchester United in the summer.
The 30-year-old has been instrumental in the Gers defence, helping keep the best defensive record in the Scottish Premiership so far and keeping 15 clean sheets in 24 matches.
However, there is one Baggies player that has been completely overlooked – Alex Palmer.
West Brom man for England
The 27-year-old should, no shadow of a doubt, be in contention to make the England squad over Butland. With the injury to Nick Pope, and Sam Johnstone and Aaron Ramsdale’s lack of playing time, a space in the squad has opened up.
Despite the ‘keeper playing his football in the Championship, Palmer is battling it out against much higher quality teams than Butland is in the Scottish Premiership.
A former England Under 16 international, Palmer has never been able to make his full senior debut for his country but his current form would indicate he deserves the chance to change that.
The West Brom man has helped form one of the most formidable defences in the Championship, with only Leicester City and Leeds United having conceded fewer goals in the league so far.
He is also currently joint-second in the race for the EFL Golden Glove award with Bolton Wanderers’ Nathan Baxter in League One, while Portsmouth’s Will Norris tops the list.
The teams that these clean sheets have come against, though, make it all the most impressive. With shut-outs against Leeds United, Ipswich Town and Norwich City, Palmer looks to be soaring at a much higher level than Butland against Sunday League-quality sides in Scotland.
Based on Southgate’s preferences, and being a sucker for loyalty, the chances of Palmer being called up to England duty are very unlikely, though. But the stats suggest that he deserves to be the third choice, at least, and certainly deserves the spot over Butland.
In other West Brom news, Neil Moxley has dubbed a Wolves fan a “moron” after what happened against the Baggies.
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