Cole Palmer wish after FA Cup goal came true and now Chelsea are reaping rewards
It may be hard to believe now, but Cole Palmer’s first Premier League goal came after more than two years of waiting. The Chelsea talisman has been a regular name on the scoresheet since his £40million move from Manchester City in 2023, netting 35 goals in 53 top-flight appearances during this time. Cole Palmer’s goal celebration has become a familiar sight over the last yearGetty Crowned last season’s PFA Young Player of the Year, Palmer will now have his sights set on claiming the main prize this term after cementing himself as one of the league’s standout performers. But as the Blues kick-off their FA Cup campaign against Morecambe this weekend, the Englishman may well be reminded of a time when he held a much simpler goal. In January 2022, an 18-year-old Palmer made his competition debut for Man City in an away clash against Swindon Town. Having made just a handful of first-team appearances prior to this, the youngster would have his sights set on impressing manager Pep Guardiola and forcing his way into his star-studded team. And Palmer certainly delivered on this, as he assisted City’s opener before netting a stunning goal from a tight angle in a 4-1 win. But it was the Mancunian’s post-match interview which gave fans an insight into his huge self-belief, as he expressed his desire to kick on after opening his FA Cup account. Speaking to ITV, Palmer was asked for his reaction after netting his first goal in the competition, despite having not yet scored in the Premier League. To this, he confidently replied: “Yeah [I’m] delighted, Prem soon come.” Unfortunately for Palmer, however, this prediction did not quite come true, as he was forced to wait much longer than hoped for his maiden league strike. His stellar FA Cup debut would prove to be his final first-team appearance of the 2021/22 campaign, as City marched to the Premier League title without the academy graduate. Palmer had high hopes for the future after his stellar FA Cup debut in 2022Getty A foot injury hampered the City academy graduate’s progress in the remainder of the 2021/22 campaignGETTY And Palmer’s final season at the Etihad would bring no greater joy in his pursuit of a first league goal. Despite enjoying his best season yet in terms of games played, he was unable to get off the mark in 14 Premier League appearances in 2022/23. But after swapping the Citizens for Stamford Bridge at the beginning of the following season, Palmer did not have long to wait before he finally delivered on his long-awaited promise. In October 2023, the playmaker finally opened both his Blues and Premier League account with a penalty in a 4-1 win at Burnley. And it’s fair to say Palmer has not looked back since then. His maiden strike at Turf Moor would prove to be the first of 22 league goals that season for the 22-year-old, who also notched a further 11 assists in a stunning debut year in the capital. GettyPalmer’s stunning debut season at Chelsea saw him net his first senior hat-trick against Manchester United in April[/caption] The Englishman has been the star man at Stamford Bridge since his arrival Palmer’s hugely impressive form saw him earn his first senior England call-up in November 2023, before he was later named in Gareth Southgate‘s 26-man squad for Euro 2024. His biggest contribution came in the final, where he netted the Three Lions’ equaliser just minutes after coming off the bench, before ultimately falling to a 2-1 defeat. But international heartache has not stopped Palmer’s progress this term. The midfielder is currently on course to enjoy an even better season than his first at Stamford Bridge, having racked up 13 Premier League goals and six assists at the halfway stage.
It may be hard to believe now, but Cole Palmer’s first Premier League goal came after more than two years of waiting.
The Chelsea talisman has been a regular name on the scoresheet since his £40million move from Manchester City in 2023, netting 35 goals in 53 top-flight appearances during this time.
Crowned last season’s PFA Young Player of the Year, Palmer will now have his sights set on claiming the main prize this term after cementing himself as one of the league’s standout performers.
But as the Blues kick-off their FA Cup campaign against Morecambe this weekend, the Englishman may well be reminded of a time when he held a much simpler goal.
In January 2022, an 18-year-old Palmer made his competition debut for Man City in an away clash against Swindon Town.
Having made just a handful of first-team appearances prior to this, the youngster would have his sights set on impressing manager Pep Guardiola and forcing his way into his star-studded team.
And Palmer certainly delivered on this, as he assisted City’s opener before netting a stunning goal from a tight angle in a 4-1 win.
But it was the Mancunian’s post-match interview which gave fans an insight into his huge self-belief, as he expressed his desire to kick on after opening his FA Cup account.
Speaking to ITV, Palmer was asked for his reaction after netting his first goal in the competition, despite having not yet scored in the Premier League.
To this, he confidently replied: “Yeah [I’m] delighted, Prem soon come.”
Unfortunately for Palmer, however, this prediction did not quite come true, as he was forced to wait much longer than hoped for his maiden league strike.
His stellar FA Cup debut would prove to be his final first-team appearance of the 2021/22 campaign, as City marched to the Premier League title without the academy graduate.
And Palmer’s final season at the Etihad would bring no greater joy in his pursuit of a first league goal.
Despite enjoying his best season yet in terms of games played, he was unable to get off the mark in 14 Premier League appearances in 2022/23.
But after swapping the Citizens for Stamford Bridge at the beginning of the following season, Palmer did not have long to wait before he finally delivered on his long-awaited promise.
In October 2023, the playmaker finally opened both his Blues and Premier League account with a penalty in a 4-1 win at Burnley.
And it’s fair to say Palmer has not looked back since then.
His maiden strike at Turf Moor would prove to be the first of 22 league goals that season for the 22-year-old, who also notched a further 11 assists in a stunning debut year in the capital.
Palmer’s hugely impressive form saw him earn his first senior England call-up in November 2023, before he was later named in Gareth Southgate‘s 26-man squad for Euro 2024.
His biggest contribution came in the final, where he netted the Three Lions’ equaliser just minutes after coming off the bench, before ultimately falling to a 2-1 defeat.
But international heartache has not stopped Palmer’s progress this term.
The midfielder is currently on course to enjoy an even better season than his first at Stamford Bridge, having racked up 13 Premier League goals and six assists at the halfway stage.
