Cole Palmer cements his place as signing of the season with Chelsea star on course to achieve never-before-seen feat
THERE we have it then, Cole Palmer can do everything.
Intricate goals, poacher’s goals, outright ridiculous ones and penalties. In an utterly miserable Chelsea season, the summer signing has been a sensation.
A second hat-trick in three games, this one the perfect combination of left foot, header and right foot, cemented his place as the undisputed signing of the season.
There have been a number of new faces shining this season – none have had to do it alone like Palmer, dazzling amidst the dysfunction at Stamford Bridge.
As if to underline his cool head compared to petulant teammates, Palmer – alongside captain Conor Gallagher – even had to break up a fight between Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke over who took the penalty to get Chelsea’s fifth.
Palmer took control and slotted home, having won the spot-kick himself after being brought down by Abdoulaye Doucoure.
This haul took him level with Erling Haaland‘s 20 goals this season with the Manchester City machine currently leading the Premier League Golden Boot race.
No midfielder has ever won that accolade before, but few would bet against Palmer becoming the first at this rate as he became the first Chelsea player to hit the 20-goal mark since Eden Hazard five years ago.
Not only is he racking up the goals, but Palmer is second in assists table too with nine so far.
The Manchester City academy graduate, sold to Chelsea for £40million last summer, is at the vanguard of Todd Boehly‘s youth-focused masterplan.
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But while the Blues have chased £1bn worth of potential, Palmer is the only one standing tall, shouldering the burden of being a Chelsea player and delivering on the pitch.
That cannot go unnoticed when it comes to England either.
The 21-year-old impressed in front of Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate against Newcastle last month while his assistant, Steve Holland, was in West London to watch this masterclass.
If Uefa‘s plans stay as they are then Southagte’s Euros squad in Germany will be tight at 23 – but there must be room for Palmer.
At present he looks a better bet than Marcus Rashford or even old teammate Jack Grealish, who has returned to form for City.
Having not started a Three Lions game yet, appearing twice as a substitute, it is a big call for Southgate – though he must be given a chance in warm-up games against Bosnia and Iceland before the final squad is named.
He can even take penalties, this being the ninth he has converted this season.
Palmer was out to impress from the off, nutmegging Doucoure within seconds of the start.
He scored a superb opener, weaving through the static Everton defence, exchanging passes with Nicolas Jackson and curling past England teammate Jordan Pickford.
The second was all instinct, racing in to follow up Jackson’s saved shot and nodding in from close range.
Then came the third, a sign of the confidence coursing through his ice-cold veins.
Pickford made a mess of a ball out of the back. It was intended for Andre Onana but ended up at the feet of the worst possible player on the pitch.
On his weaker foot, from 35-yards, Palmer lifted the ball over England’s No1 and in to round off his perfect hat-trick in the space of 16 minutes.
There was almost a fourth shortly after the break too when Palmer looked to slide the ball underneath Pickford but was finally stopped, though the Everton keeper was sent the wrong way from the spot on 65 minutes.
He was serenaded throughout before being given an almighty standing ovation and a huge hug from Mauricio Pochettino when withdrawn after 80 minutes.
The boy wonder was brave to leave Manchester City and Pep Guardiola behind at the start of the season and he will get another chance to show them what they are missing at Wembley this weekend.