Chelsea superstar Cole Palmer has been named England's Player of the Year for 2023-24 despite earning just nine caps for his country.
Palmer has been in stunning form since moving to Stamford Bridge from Manchester City in 2023, scoring 31 goals in 54 matches in all competitions, and he has been hailed by some as the best player in the Premier League.
His red-hot heroics led to him being recognised at international level with the forward making his Three Lions debut against Malta last November.
However, he has started just two games for the national side. Five of his appearances came at Euro 2024 where Palmer memorably scored in the final against Spain, although Gareth Southgate's men lost 2-1 in agonising fashion in Berlin.
Despite England going the distance in Germany, he played just 144 minutes in total.
Cole Palmer has been named as England's Player of the Year for 2023-24
The prestigious Player of the Year gong was voted for by the public and Palmer emerged as the winner ahead of Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka, the Real Madrid midfielder finishing second with the Arsenal ace taking third.
Saka had emerged victorious in the past two seasons while the likes of captain Harry Kane, Wayne Rooney and David Beckham are also past winners.
Palmer is the first Chelsea player to receive the award since Ashley Cole in 2010 and the recognition comes after he was also named the PFA Young Player of the Year for the 2023-24 campaign in August, courtesy of his superb debut year with the Blues.
The 22-year-old has scored 28 goals and registered 17 assists in his 58 total appearances in the Premier League, including his stunning start this term.
He has already netted six times and netted four goals in one game against Brighton.
Palmer has been named in interim boss Lee Carsley's squad for England's upcoming Nations League games against Greece and Finland later this week.
Questions remain over how Palmer best fits into the star-studded starting line-up.
Speaking after naming his squad last week, Carsley suggested Palmer could be deployed as an emergency left back as a means to solve his side's ongoing issues with the position - with Luke Shaw still ruled out through injury.
But Crouch is adamant Palmer must be given the license to roam.
'I think you play him where he wants to play, you have got to give him a free role.' Crouch said on TNT Sports at the weekend.
'Genuinely, there was a call for it last year with [Phil] Foden, when he was at the top of his game I wanted him to play a free role.
'The same with Cole Palmer, he has to start games in a free role, a central position, picking up the ball and using his creativity.