The update says Palmer is likely to be disappointed by missing out, and that is only natural. He has become too important a player for any absence from the international picture to feel insignificant.
But from Chelsea’s side, there appears to be a clear practical upside:
After a long season, that matters. Top players often spend summers catching flights, changing camps and returning late. If Palmer stays put, the club can manage his workload more carefully and build him back up at the right pace.
McFarlane did not try to dress it up as anything other than a setback. Instead, he framed the response as the key issue. “There's going to be lots of them. There's going to be losses. There's going to be moments like this. If you have the right mindset you can turn it into a positive,” he said.
That feels especially relevant for Palmer, who appears to have carried a heavy load at times. A fresher start could help him find his sharpest level again rather than spending the opening weeks of next season trying to play himself back into rhythm.
McFarlane also spoke warmly about Jorrel Hato, with the report suggesting Chelsea hold the young defender in high regard. That may be one to watch as the club shapes its next cycle under a new boss.
For now, though, the spotlight stays on Palmer. If he returns refreshed and fully tuned for pre-season, this summer omission may look less like a snub and more like the pause that helps launch his next chapter.