Former Chelsea star John Obi Mikel has revealed the one concern he has about star man Cole Palmer and urged supporters not to come for him.
Palmer has been nothing short of a sensation since he arrived from Manchester City in the summer of 2023 in a deal worth £42.5m, but recently shared that he had to be persuaded to join the club.
He took the league by storm last season and was named Premier League Young Player of the Year after scoring 22 goals and providing 11 assists.
Mikel reveals one concern he has about Palmer
The 22-year-old’s rise to the top of the game has been meteoric and it feels like he’s picked up nearly every individual award going.
Conversation has centred around whether he’s the best player in the Premier League, whilst former Blue Pat Nevin claimed there aren’t many better in the world than him.
Palmer has once again heavily contributed this season and has seven goals and five assists in the first 11 games, but there’s a narrative starting to form that he doesn’t impact big games.
Personally the narrative feels unfair because he delivered in big games last season including a hat-trick against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge and last minute equaliser from the spot against Manchester City.
However, it’s fair to say this season he’s been nullified in games against Liverpool, United and Arsenal, with it apparent there doesn’t seem to be a solution for getting him in the game when he’s being man marked or doubled up on.
Mikel wants to see more from Palmer in the big games and revealed that’s the one concern he has about the England international.
“We talk about Cole Palmer, I’m a huge fan,” he told his Obi One Podcast.
“I think everybody is a huge fan. But again, the big games. You need to show up. That again is my only question with Haaland. So far, Haaland hasn’t done that for City. So far, Cole Palmer hasn’t done it for us.
“He was quiet against City, Liverpool the same, United again. The big games, I’d like to see Cole Palmer, because he’s an absolutely fantastic player, but the big games. You see Lamine Yamal, he shows up in the big games. I’d like to see Cole Palmer do a bit more of that.
“Chelsea fans don’t come for me, we all love Cole Palmer, but I’d love to see him provide those assists, do something.”
I go with Mikel’s opinion, if only Palmer could show up in big games then he would be the world’s best footballer.