Lucy Oliva, BBC Radio London
It’s no coincidence that Chelsea’s recent run of form - an unprecedented three wins in a row - has coincided with the three starts handed to deadline day signing Cole Palmer.
Despite being just 21, Palmer has brought with him a swagger and confidence on the ball which has been sorely missing for a long time at Stamford Bridge.
When you’ve shared a dressing room and played alongside the dazzling array of talent at treble-winners Manchester City, it’s no wonder some of that stardust rubs off. To have a player who’s career and development has been shaped by Pep Guardiola has got to have some benefits, right?
The coolness with which he slotted home his penalty after a lengthy VAR check at Turf Moor to get his first goal in Chelsea colours - and his first ever in the Premier League - showed his composure. His pressing with and without the ball has re-energised a team which has been criticised for being ponderous and lacking a cutting edge. His link up play with former City team-mate Raheem Sterling also shows signs of being an integral partnership in this new-look attack.
There’s an embarrassment of riches in the forward areas at Cobham now and Mauricio Pochettino will have a welcome selection headache when he starts to get back some of the many injured players from the treatment room. But Palmer is already staking his claim as an integral puzzle piece, however small the sample size so far.
Eyebrows were raised when the club dropped over £40m to bring in the Under-21 Euros winner, who was ultimately surplus to requirement at the Etihad. But in his short time at the club he’s already making his mark.
The fact they hadn’t scored a goal in the three games before his first start against Brighton in the League Cup - and have bagged seven in those three since - suggests he may have been just the spark they needed.
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