ALAN SHEARER has warned Cole Palmer that he faces a tricky challenge this season.
The Chelsea star was named the PFA Young Player of the Year after his sparkling debut campaign at Stamford Bridge.
Palmer, 22, netted 22 goals and assisted 11 more in his 33 Premier League appearances after his switch from Manchester City.
His brilliant form saw him called up to the England squad for the run to the final at Euro 2024 this summer.
This season has not started as successfully as the Blues lost their first league match to Man City.
Shearer has now called on Palmer to prove he is a top player by repeating his exploits this campaign.
He told Betfair: “Cole Palmer needs to go again, and I have no doubt that he will.
“He should enjoy this moment and embrace it.
“He looks so chilled; there’s an arrogance about him, in the best sense he’s got that swagger, which I rate.
“He’s like, ‘pass me the ball, I’m not sweating it’, and that’s how he rolled last season.
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“After a blinder like that, he’s got to somehow step it up again, as tricky as that’ll be in this Chelsea squad because they’re playing a different game to your average club.
“But we’ve seen the talent, we’ve seen the ability, we’ve seen he can score goals and we’ve seen he can handle the pressure.
Here is who won awards at the PFA awards this year...
Players’ Player of the Year – Phil Foden, Manchester City
Young Player of the Year – Cole Palmer, Chelsea
Women’s Players’ Player of the Year – Khadija Shaw, Manchester City
Women’s Young Player of the Year – Grace Clinton, Tottenham
“The one thing you’ve got to do is go again, because that’s what top players do.
“The top players enjoy what they’ve done, they get a taste for it and think, ‘I want more of that’, and that is what Palmer’s got to do now too.”
There have been concerns over Palmer after he hobbled off the pitch in Chelsea’s 2-0 Conference League play-off win over Servette.
Manager Enzo Maresca has calmed the worries since then.
He said: “Cole felt something, but he looks fine.”
Palmer has been rewarded for his good form at Chelsea as he was handed a massive contract extension.
The attacker has penned a new deal that will run until 2033, which will significantly boost his £60,000-per-week wages.
Here is a list of all Chelsea's signings under Todd Boehly...
