Cole Palmer missed our game at the Emirates this past weekend due to a “muscle injury” and that has now also resulted, as expected, in his withdrawal from the England national team ahead of their World Cup qualifying matches this week.

That was the consensus at Manchester City when the skinny midfielder moved up to the under-16s and struggled to make an impression. Coaches had always quite liked him and understood that he could make up for his lack of power and presence with skill – but that changed when he was 15 and moved to a new team.