Matt Le Tissier and Carlton Palmer at war over England careers

Le Tissier only played eight times for England, Palmer 18

Foemr England midfielder Carlton Palmer (Getty)

Two former Premier League cult heroes have entered into a war of words over their differing England careers.

Carlton Palmer, who had notable spells with West Bromwich Albion, Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United, was a team-mate of Matt Le Tissier's at Southampton in the late 1990s.

Le Tissier, one of the most talented players England has produced, was criminally under-used by the national team, winning just eight caps despite being named PFA Young Player of the Year in 1990 and being named in the PFA Team of the Year in 1995.

The forward spent his whole career at Southampton and had an eye for the spectacular winning the Goal of the Month competition three times as well as scoring more than 200 career goals.


 Matt Le Tissier spent his entire career at Southampton

Palmer was known for his high energy and work rate, but was heavily criticised for his lack of ability on the ball. Despite his limitations, he won 18 caps, playing in Euro 1992 and being a key part of the team that failed to qualify for the 1994 World Cup.

Palmer was on Soccer AM on Saturday morning and took a dig at Le Tissier, who turned down the chance to move to Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur during his playing career.

"I always get stick," Palmer, 50, said. "It’s not deserved. It’s people’s perception, and people jump on the bandwagon. I don’t want to slag people off, but the other day Matt Le Tissier made a comment about me and he called me a bully in his book, which isn’t true.

"I wanted to win football matches, so if you played in the same team as me and you weren’t at it, we got a problem. Matt Le Tissier put in his book that I was a bully and asked, ‘How did he get 18 England caps?’

"Well why did you only get six (Le Tissier won eight caps)? People say he should have had more but why didn’t he? I’ve played more league games than him and I’ve got 18 England caps, so don’t criticise me and try and get publicity off the back of that. I would never do that about somebody else."

Palmer added: "Le Tissier was a fantastic footballer, but how can he criticise me when I can look back and say I’ve done the best that I could do. Has he done the best he could do? Big clubs came after him.

"It’s all right to play for one club if you’re at Chelsea. Southampton, with greatest respect, if Chelsea come in for you, go and test yourself."

Le Tissier, who works for Sky Sports as a pundit and was watching the show, and responded on social media.

"So, I've been getting stick on Soccer AM by the only footballer I knew who could control a ball further than he could kick it," said Le Tissier, adding a laughing face.

"By the way I totally respect Carlton Palmer for getting every ounce out of his career with the ability he had."