Cole Palmer has joked that Leeds United defender Charlie Cresswell missed a sitter on international duty on Thursday night.
Palmer was responding to Cresswell’s Instagram post after England U21s’ incredible 9-1 victory over Serbia at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground.
Cresswell was starting for the first time since Leeds’ penalty shootout defeat to Salford City in the Carabao Cup all the way back in August.
The 21-year-old has found himself as Leeds’ fourth choice centre-back under Daniel Farke, with Pascal Struijk, Joe Rodon and Liam Cooper all ahead of him in the pecking order.
It is unlikely Cresswell would’ve started for England, either, had Southampton’s Taylor Harwood-Bellis not suffered a hamstring injury, but 90 minutes under his belt in a victory like this will give him huge confidence.
Palmer jokes at Cresswell sitter for England U21s
Palmer was eluding to a free header Cresswell missed inside the opening five minutes for England, with the score still at 0-0.
The £45 million signing from Manchester City delivered a perfect corner onto the head of the Leeds man, who somehow put his effort wide, which has prompted the response from Palmer.
Having seen the replay of the header, you would have put your house on Cresswell scoring after his goal record while on loan at Millwall last season.
That said, you could probably forgive Cresswell for being a little rusty with the only minutes he has played since the international break an incredibly brief cameo against QPR last week.
Either way, it is good to see him get 90 minutes under his belt surrounded by some top players, and the extra match fitness will stand him in good stead if he is needed at Leeds.
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