Chelsea legend says club has 'one hell of a talent' in £40m gem

Chelsea legend Gary Cahill has heaped praise on midfielder Cole Palmer after his brace of assists against Crystal Palace and breakthrough season at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues signed the 21-year-old from Premier League rivals Manchester City last summer for £40 million and Palmer has become a key player under Mauricio Pochettino. The star has racked up 31 appearances in all competitions this term, having played just 850 minutes in 25 games for the Champions last season.

The former Bolton and Crystal Palace defender said: “Cole Palmer has been fantastic amongst everything that has been going on over the past few months. He has been one of the shining lights. He came from Manchester City so he knows what playing for a big club is all about.

“He looks like he’s playing without fear and that is a great character trait. For him still to play with that level of confidence, even when the rest of the team isn’t playing so well, that is fantastic. He wants to get on the ball in dangerous areas and produce at such a young age, his numbers are impressive and he looks as though he’s only going to get stronger. He’s one hell of a talent!"

Cahill also had praise for another young England star in Levi Colwill. The Chelsea man had become a mainstay in Pochettino's side before a recent hamstring injury and Cahill believes he has the makings of a future star for the England national team.

He told Parimatch: “I definitely think Levi Colwill will potentially be looking at getting back into the England squad. It is tough for him at the moment because it is easier for players to perform well in a team that is flourishing and getting results.

“This season will definitely strengthen his character because, when I go back through my experiences, you learn how to deal with lots of different situations in the bad times as well as good ones. He’ll be learning how to deal with the pressure that comes with the Premier League and playing for Chelsea.

“He has got many attributes that could put him in the England fold and I just think, if he keeps developing and learning, then he could potentially get there. It is about playing well consistently at club level, but it is difficult to keep plugging away in this Chelsea team at the moment.”