Caption: COLOGNE, GERMANY – JUNE 25:Cole Palmer(Getty)

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou praised Cole Palmer’s attacking intent after England’s goalless draw against Slovenia and has urged Gareth Southgate not to ‘protect’ the Chelsea forward at Euro 2024.

England delivered another disjointed display in their stalemate against Slovenia on Tuesday evening but finished top of Group C with five points and will now play either the Netherlands, Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine or Belgium in their last-16 tie in Gelsenkirchen at 5pm on Sunday.

Palmer, meanwhile, made was handed his first appearance of the tournament as he came off the bench to replace Bukayo Saka in the 71st minute, and Chelsea’s talisman quickly became England’s most likely source of breaking the deadlock against a well-organised Slovenia side.

Tottenham boss Postecoglou praised Palmer for his display after the game and claimed Chelsea and England have a ‘rare’ player on their hands.

When asked what he loves most about Palmer after England’s draw, Postecoglou told ITV: ‘Every time he’s got the ball he’s looking to eliminate opposition, whether that’s individual players or lines of the opposition.

‘Every one of his incursions takes somebody out of the game.

Ange Postecoglou has urged Gareth Southgate not to ‘protect’ Cole Palmer (Getty)

‘When you have a player like that, irrespective of how the opposition set up in defensive stance, he will always find that gap, he will always find those spaces.

‘His first thought is, ‘how can I eliminate one of the opposition or a line of the opposition’. Those kind of players are rare.

‘I said before the game, I know they spoke about protecting young players, I don’t think they need protection, I just think they need to be thrown out there to play.’

WHO ENGLAND COULD PLAY IN THE LAST-16?

Netherlands, Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine or Belgium

England’s last-16 tie will take place in Gelsenkirchen at 5pm on Sunday.

Postecoglou also urged Southgate to show the same faith in Kobbie Mainoo, who also impressed against Slovenia, and Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton, who is yet to make an appearance at Euro 2024.

Asked if Southgate had swallowed his pride by replacing Conor Gallagher with Mainoo at half time against Slovenia, Postecoglou replied: ‘I don’t know if it’s swallowing your pride because Gareth said he actually felt it did sort of work in the function he wanted – he wanted a more aggressive press and it was a logical decision to put Conor in there.

‘But then he said he wanted more impetus with the ball so then Kobbie becomes a much more viable option.