Chelsea superstar Cole Palmer was his relaxed self in Sydney ahead of facing Tottenham, but gave a glimpse of the challenge he faced for the first time in his career last season when a groin injury plagued his campaign.
The Blues star, who missed out on the World Cup, admitted he got so bored in the off-season holidaying he couldn’t wait to get stuck back in under new boss Xabi Alonso. But, he did spend plenty of time bugging his mate Morgan Rogers with messages. And it paid off, with the move from Aston Villa in a British record fee.
“I was just speaking to Morgan. I think he told me straight away when he told me he was coming. Obviously, it didn’t get leaked, only me and him and the hierarchy at the club,” he told reporters in Sydney on Friday.
“It was a difficult secret to keep.”
He continued: “Everyone knows how good he is and obviously he’s one of my best friends.
“I always speak to him, but when I heard that Chelsea are trying to sign him, I was texting even more!
“He’s probably sick of me but at least he’s here now.”
While both play similar positions, Palmer is excited about being unleashed together creatively in Alonso’s line-up.
“We’re two different players. He’s more physical than me on and off the ball.
“He likes to drive a bit, he likes to play passes. So, I think we can play well together. And we play together when we were young.”
He described Alonso, who messaged him immediately after his World Cup omission and told him not to worry about it, as a “breath of fresh air” which the players have enjoyed.
“He sees me in the 10, in the pocket, close to the striker, we’ll see,” he added.
That omission saw him with seven weeks where he didn’t really know what to do with himself, but, while he says he isn’t thinking about an England recall, he said: “If someone tells you essentially you’re not good enough to get in a squad, you’re going to think, alright, I want to try and go that extra harder.”
Part of the reason Palmer’s form dropped, which saw him miss the World Cup, was the niggling groin injury, which he admitted almost saw him go under the knife.
He didn’t, but reflected on how difficult a career first it was.
Photo: Oscar Zechner.
“I didn’t really know what to do with it,” he admitted.
“The first few months of me being injured, I just wanted to go out and play, which I probably shouldn’t have done. I couldn’t play how I wanted to play.
“Yeah, it was a bad season personally with injuries and stuff, but I feel good now. Seven weeks obviously helps. Now I’m ready to go again.”
For now, that’s in Sydney, where he was seen sharing a laugh and getting along with Sydney-born protégée Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli, someone he has taken under his wing.
“He funny, he’s confident, he’s only 16, but he’s got all the attributes to play at this club. Even next season, could possibly be ready.
“On him if he wants to work hard and keep focus but definitely has a lot of the talent to do what he wants.”