After a fine debut season with Chelsea the winger is unfazed by his late miss on his tournament debut against Slovenia

By the time our 20 minutes with Cole Palmer are up, the England winger has managed to rave about Riyad Mahrez’s first touch, reveal that Austria have been one of his favourite teams at Euro 2024, claim Londoners are way moodier than northerners, talk about getting on for 20 minutes against Slovenia, praise Mauricio Pochettino’s time at Chelsea, elaborate on his relationship with Enzo Maresca and, most importantly of all, correct erroneous reports that he has an obsession with baked beans.

The answers are short, sweet and often pretty illuminating. Palmer does not skip a beat before revealing that his first position was left-back. It was a throwaway comment, but he suddenly looks horrified. He glances at the press officer sitting to his left and wonders if he has put his foot in it. Is Gareth Southgate about to stumble upon the answer to England’s problem position? “I am talking under-10s!” Palmer says. “Under-10s! I have never played left-back since. I was tiny and I just got put left-back. When I was 12 I moved further and further up.”

• Foden back training after returning home for child’s birth
• Gallagher set to drop out for last-16 tie against Slovakia

Gareth Southgate is giving strong consideration to sticking with his first-choice attack after Phil Foden returned to training on Friday and took part in England’s preparations for their last-16 tie against Slovakia.

Southgate, who has come under heavy criticism for his tactics at Euro 2024, is not expected to do anything drastic against Slovakia on Sunday and is veering towards making only one change, with ­Kobbie Mainoo set to replace Conor ­Gallagher in midfield.

• Players’ relatives caught up in Southgate protest
• ‘It wasn’t nice. My brother was hit, a few others’

Ezri Konsa has revealed England’s players had to check on family members who were drenched with beer thrown by supporters at the end of the team’s goalless draw with Slovenia.

On a night that ended with plastic beer cups being thrown in the direction of Gareth Southgate, relatives and loved ones of the players also found themselves in the line of fire. Konsa, who said that the atmosphere in that part of the stadium was “not nice” after a draw that secured top spot for England in Group C, said his brother was among those showered with drinks. The defender added that the abuse of Southgate had not been a conversation topic in the dressing room.

• Konsa: ‘I think that’ll be the last time we go on the bike’
• Newcastle forward left with large graze on chin

England will consider abandoning the bike rides that players do as part of their post-match recovery after an accident left Anthony Gordon with cuts to his chin and hands.

Gordon, who could come into the starting lineup in Sunday’s last-16 tie against Slovakia, was the subject of much mirth from the rest of the squad after suffering a heavy fall the day after England’s draw with Slovenia. The winger mostly emerged with damaged pride, along with a very noticeable graze on his chin, but there is expected to be a review into whether the team continue to use electric bikes that are capable of picking up high speeds.