Chelsea were once again mired in mid-table and had to endure an unforgettable season, but it was a sign of growth for Cole Palmer.
The 21-year-old, who left Manchester City for Stamford Bridge in the summer, has scored one goal and another for the Blues. 3-2 win over Newcastle on monday.
He has been involved in 19 goals in 2023-24 and has both scored and provided an assist in five league games this season, more than any other Premier League player.
Gareth Southgate watched from the stands as Palmer inspired his team to victory over the Magpies with a man-of-the-match display, but the England manager has decided to keep him in line for this summer's European Championship. Did he have enough insight to add him to the team?
Former England defender Gary Neville told Sky Sports: “He's perfect for all types of football, but he's definitely perfect for international football, where you need real class and composure in the final third.”
“I always think the best players run with their heads up so they can release at the right time. In the most difficult areas of the pitch, the most frenetic areas, they always seem to have time.
“Palmer is very precise in his work for such a young player. You always think young wingers are unstable in the early stages, but he's not like that. He's top-notch.”
But Palmer made his debut for the Three Lions in November and has just won the first of his two caps, so he is very happy to be joining England's conversation.
“If you had told me at the beginning of the season that I would have a chance to go to the Euros, I wouldn't have believed you given the position I'm in,” he said.
“I'm not thinking too far ahead. We'll see what happens in the summer.”
“I just wanted to show what I'm capable of.”
Whatever happens in the summer, there is no doubting Palmer's impact on Chelsea's season, having scored and assisted more than any other player in the squad.
While his current club continues to struggle for consistency, his former team are aiming for a new treble, including an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title.
“He's been Chelsea's best player by far this season,” former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher told Sky Sports. “What I like about Palmer is not just his ability and what he's shown this season, but the way he makes those moves as a local kid.
“I respect him for moving from Manchester City, currently the best team in Europe, to the Chelsea project, where you still have no idea what's going to happen.”
Neville suggested Palmer could still be a “real asset” for City despite starting just three league games for his boyhood club, but the Chelsea forward said the move was a no-brainer. “It paid off,” he said.
“I just wanted to prove myself,” he said. “It was a very difficult decision to leave City – I've been at City since I was six years old.
“I was ready to play football, I talked to my family, I talked to the club and I moved to Chelsea.”
