FOR the first time in his career, Cole Palmer (£5.8m) has gone off the boil.
After an uncharacteristically wasteful performance against Southampton on Tuesday night, Chelsea’s talisman took to Instagram to tell fans: “Don’t worry I will be back.”
Dream TeamPalmer wasn’t his usual self against Southampton[/caption]
Palmer has now gone seven games without a goal, which isn’t a catastrophe for a midfielder by any means but it represents a significant downturn from the immensely high standards he has set for himself since his move to Stamford Bridge.
A home game against bottom-of-the-league Saints seemed like the perfect opportunity for the 22-year-old to end his drought but he squandered several chances, failing to exhibit the composure he has become known for in the last year.
Christopher Nkunku (£3.2m), Pedro Neto (£2.8m), Levi Colwill (£2.7m) and Marc Cucurella (£3.6m) all got on the scoresheet in what was a much-needed win for the Blues but Palmer’s dipping form remains a concern for Enzo Maresca.
And it’s giving plenty of Dream Team managers headaches too.
GettyStick or twist?[/caption]
With 260 points to his name, Palmer’s overall record remains hugely impressive.
Even now, only runaway leader Mohamed Salah (£8.3m) boasts a superior points-per-game average.
Alongside his 14 goals and nine assists, Palmer ranks third among all assets for shots on target, joint-fourth for big chances created, and joint-ninth for bonus points.
The fact the 56.8%-owned midfielder has so many avenues to points has proved useful in recent weeks when goals have deserted him.
Since his last goal, Palmer has ticked over with 39 points at an average of 5.6 points-per-game, which is not to be sniffed at in the slightest.
Such is the England star’s level that his returns have remained healthy enough during his ‘bad spell’.
ReutersMaresca has added Palmer to his Conference League squad[/caption]
But his owners have every right to feel frustrated as more than a few points have gone begging in the last month or so.
What’s telling is that, at this moment in time, Palmer is among the most transferred-out players ahead of Gameweek 26.
Having been eliminated from the FA Cup by Brighton, Chelsea’s only fixture this coming Gameweek is against Copenhagen in the Conference League round of 16.
Dream Team managers should be aware that Palmer has been added to the club’s European squad and is therefore eligible to play in Denmark next Thursday.
He wasn’t included in the squad for the league phase in an effort to manage his workload but with the West Londoners heavy favourites to lift the trophy come May, Maresca has called up his star player.
PAPalmer might feature against Copenhagen[/caption]
It’s still difficult to predict Palmer’s minutes against Copenhagen but the prospect of him playing in Europe’s tertiary competition is an appealing one.
Looking slightly further ahead, Gameweek 27 appears mightily favourable for Chelsea on paper.
19th-placed Leicester are due in the capital four days before Copenhagen fly over for the second leg.
Palmer may not be at his best but gaffers prepared to go without him for that double header will surely be worried about extensive damage.
Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
