Gerrard Spots a Familiar Trait in Palmer as Chelsea Star Rediscovers Form

Former Steven Gerrard has spoken glowingly about Cole Palmer, admitting he recognises a trait in the Chelsea star that mirrors his own experience at the highest level.

Palmer has transformed Chelsea’s attack since arriving from Manchester City in the summer of 2023 for £40 million. The 23 year old has delivered remarkable numbers, scoring 52 goals and providing 32 assists in 115 appearances for Chelsea. Those statistics underline just how influential he has become in a short space of time.

His season, however, has not been without difficulty. A groin injury ruled him out for much of the first half of the campaign and disrupted his rhythm. He returned in December during the defeat to Leeds United and has been gradually rediscovering his sharpness. In recent matches he has begun to look like himself again. He struck a hat trick in the 3 1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers and followed it up with a goal and an assist in the 2 2 draw against Leeds.

Palmer has openly admitted he is still not operating at full fitness, and the club have carefully managed his workload. Even so, his importance to the team remains obvious. Despite the strong form of Joao Pedro and the encouraging emergence of Estevao, Chelsea continue to lean heavily on Palmer’s creativity and composure in decisive moments.

Speaking on TNT Sports, Gerrard explained that he sees a familiar fire in the young midfielder. He noted Palmer’s visible frustration when moves break down or when performances dip, describing it as the kind of elite mentality that separates good players from the very best. Gerrard emphasised that carrying the creative responsibility of a major club at such a young age demands resilience and deep self belief, qualities he believes Palmer clearly possesses.

Chelsea have also received encouraging news elsewhere, with Reece James and Romeo Lavia returning to full training. James had missed the last three matches through injury and illness, while Lavia has been sidelined since November. Their return strengthens the squad at a crucial stage of the season, offering renewed depth as the fixtures continue to come thick and fast.