Although Cole Palmer will miss out on the chance to help England reach the knockout stages of the UEFA Nations League, he will get some much-deserved rest over the international break.

At least five key Chelsea players will have the chance to work closely with Xabi Alonso at Cobham Training Ground during the international break. There's a lot of work to be done on the pitches in Surrey, as the Blues look to make up for a couple of disappointing results and climb the Premier League table.

Chelsea enjoyed a promising start to the season, storming past Fulham and Brighton. Arsenal then knocked Alonso's side down a peg or two, coming from behind to lay down a marker in the early stages of the title race.

They then surrendered another early lead when they were held to a draw by Hull City. Brentford extended the Blues' barren run in the English top-flight just before the previous international break, putting three past Emi Martinez.

Chelsea leapt out of the gates in October, smashing Bournemouth and Everton. The Blues fell at the third hurdle again, losing to Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge for the first time since April 2018.

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Alonso's side returned to winning ways, defeating Manchester United to leapfrog Liverpool and secure a place in the top four. Regardless of what happens at the Stadium of Light on Sunday afternoon, Chelsea have a few problems to iron out over the international break.

Fortunately for the Blues manager, those who will not be representing their country over the next couple of weeks will have the opportunity to work closely with him as he looks to climb the Premier League table.

Morgan Rogers was the only Chelsea player to be named in the latest England squad by Thomas Tuchel, leaving Cole Palmer, Levi Colwill and Jordan Henderson at home. The German only called up two strikers to the upcoming camp at St George's Park, Harry Kane and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, so Danny Welbeck was left out, too.

Reece James was, of course, also not named in the latest Three Lions squad, as he continues to nurse a knee injury. The fit and available Englishmen are just five of many Blues players who will get to work closely with Alonso at Cobham over the international break.

Whether they're put through their paces on the grass or given some time off to relax, their omissions come as a huge boost for Chelsea ahead of the congested festive period. They won't have the opportunity to help England reach the knockout stages of a major competition, but they will be spurred on to show their quality.

Speaking to reporters on Friday morning, Tuchel was bombarded with questions about Palmer, who will want to prove a point when Chelsea face Sunderland this weekend. The former Blues boss said: "I guess everyone is desperate to play for England and Cole is no exception.

"We are speaking now about a player that is not in camp. It counts when you are in camp, and I just said last time that he misses too many opportunities to impress.

"It was a long camp, it was two and a half weeks and the players and the boys who were in campo built something extraordinary. That's why the credit goes to them; the trust is for them. If you are in camp, this is your chance to impress.

"So it's not personal, and of course we will never assume that Cole is not in the mindset to come and desperate to play for his country, but the competition is on, and the players who were in camp did an amazing job and kept their place."

Josh Acheampong was named in the England under-21s squad, though, as Lee Carsley prepares his young Lions to face Portugal and France.