Former Premier League goalkeeper Ben Foster has described Cole Palmer’s season as the “most impressive breakthrough season from a young English player ever.”
Palmer has been a revelation in a largely disappointing campaign for the Blues following his arrival from Manchester City on deadline day last summer.
The 22-year-old has scored 24 goals in all competitions with 21 of those coming in the Premier League, putting him second behind Erling Haaland in the race for the Golden Boot.
Praise keeps coming for Palmer
The England International’s form has seen him nominated for both the Premier League Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards, as his season gets the recognition it rightly deserves.
Palmer scooped the Premier League Player of the Month and Goal of the Month awards for a fantastic April in which he scored seven goals, including two hat-tricks and provided an assist.
It’s easy to forget this is Palmer’s first season playing regularly in the Premier League having been on the periphery at City.
Palmer has rightfully been getting plaudits from pundits and ex-players, but Foster has gone and step further and claimed it’s the best breakthrough season from an English youngster he’s seen.
“I’m going to go out and say it, I think this might be the most impressive breakthrough season from a young English player ever,” Foster told the Premier League’s official YouTube channel.
“I’ve been so impressed with him this year.
“His energy levels are up there with the best I’ve seen, never stops running.
“His enthusiasm to want to get on the ball and manufacture something, he wants to drag his team up the pitch.
“You’re talking about a 22-year-old lad here, he’s the one leading that team, he’s the guy in charge of taking the penalties, that responsibility is on him already, I love it.
“He’s the player that gets fans in the stadium, he’s the player that gets them off the seats.”
Palmer has three games remaining this season starting with Saturday evening’s trip to Nottingham Forest, but his campaign is sure to extend into the summer with a place in Gareth Southgate’s squad for the Euros surely a certainty.
That’s wonderful