Garth Crooks has heaped praise on Cole Palmer and believes he’s the best talent England have produced since Glenn Hoddle.
Palmer has been noting short of a revelation at Stamford Bridge following his arrival from Manchester City on deadline day last summer.
The 22-year-old has quickly established himself as Chelsea’s go to man this season, and has single handedly won the Blues a number of games this season.
Palmer the best English talent since Hoddle?
The former City man became just the third Premier League player in the competition’s history aged 21 or under to register 30 goal contributions in a single season.
In his first full season of playing regular football Palmer has scored 24 goals for the Blues, with 21 of those coming in the Premier League, leaving him second to Erling Haaland in the race for the golden boot.
Palmer’s form this season has seen him make his England debut, and will surely end with a place in Gareth Southgate’s final squad for the Euros this summer.
The versatile forward was back on the scoresheet against West Ham, and also displayed his impressive range of passing against the Hammers.
Crooks was full of praise for Palmer and believes he’s the best talent England have produced since Hoddle.
“I’ve been very reluctant to say this as I don’t want to put any more pressure on the lad than already exists but I think Cole Palmer is the best talent this country has produced since Glenn Hoddle”, Crooks told BBC Sport.
“Palmer scored his 24th goal of the season like it was a training exercise and plays his game with such ease he never seems stretched.
“He sees the pass well before anyone else has seen it and then cuts the opposition in half with it.
“Manchester City’s Phil Foden is talented but Cole Palmer is gifted.
“My hope is the England manager makes the most of these players. History suggests the national team has struggled with talent like this in the past.”
If Chelsea are to secure Europa League football, Palmer will have a key role to play over the last three games, but whatever happens it’s been a superb season on an individual level, and Chelsea fans will be desperate to see a repeat next season