Alan Shearer has admitted he’s been impressed by Cole Palmer so far this season, following his switch from Manchester City to Chelsea over the summer.
Palmer traded the Etihad Stadium for Stamford Bridge in search of more regular football minutes, and that decision has proven to be a great one both for him and Chelsea.
In his first nine appearances for the Blues, the 21-year-old has registered four goals and two assists— with his latest strike coming in the 4-4 draw against Manchester City on Sunday.
With Chelsea down 4-3 to the reigning Premier League champions, Palmer stepped up to take a 95th minute penalty kick that was awarded after Armando Broja was fouled by Ruben Diaz, and he clinically dispatched it to ensure that the Blues finished the game with a point.
While speaking after the game, Shearer lauded Palmer’s composure to take the penalty, and described the England youth international as ‘magnificent’ after his ‘Man of the Match’ display against Pep Guardiola’s side.
“Very impressive Chelsea performance, Reece James was superb, Conor Gallagher, Raheem Sterling was incredible but 21-year-old Palmer was absolutely sensational,” said Shearer on BBC Match of the Day 2.
“One of the impressive things about him is he always tries to pass forward into forwards. His first thought is can he do that, can he run forward.
“There was nothing short of it being magnificent when he had the ball. Offering himself when under pressure and then driving forward and setting Chelsea into really good positions.
“He is 21 and been there for five minutes and is a regular and main players in that team he looks so confident.
“When all this is going on with the penalty he is the calmest man in the stadium. No pressure at all for him. He was superb and magnificent.
“It was a good deal for both parties, City and him, no way he would be a regular at City. They got good money for him.”