**Former Chelsea defender Gary Cahill thinks the Blues are a “different team” when Cole Palmer is playing week, week out.**
The attacking midfielder has had his fitness issues this season, but Cahill thinks Palmer will soon be at the top of his game once again:
“I think that Cole Palmer is a devastating prospect for Chelsea, and his numbers in terms of goals and assists is frightening, but Chelsea are a different team with him in the starting lineup.
“I feel like we’ll see him getting back to his best very shortly, hopefully, but world-class player.”
The Chelsea star has had an up-and-down campaign
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If you look at the 23-year-old’s stats, 10 goals and 3 assists in 26 games is not exactly a poor return from a no.10.
However, Palmer spent a lot of time on the sidelines with a groin problem, and on his return to fitness in early December, he hasn’t always looked like the player of old.
There have been flashes, such as his hat-trick against Wolves, and his two assists during a crucial 3-2 win over Napoli, but he hasn’t always had an impact on proceedings.
Palmer has made a frank admission about his form
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Speaking after the 7-0 win over Port Vale in the FA Cup last weekend, the England international surprisingly revealed that he has only really just returned to full fitness:
“I feel good, feel like I’ve turned a corner, I can finally shoot again and do everything now, so just about kicking on and performing.”
That suggests that Palmer was still carrying the chronic groin injury that he had plagued him since the Club World Cup. Cahill is probably right to say that we should see the player’s very best over the coming weeks, and that is good news for head coach [**Liam Rosenior**](https://chelseanews.com/blog/chelsea-news-liam-rosenior-sack-decision/).
[**Read more about the Chelsea First Team Squad for 2025/26 here**](https://chelseanews.com/blog/chelsea-first-team-squad/)