Cole Palmer lifts the mood at Chelsea in big boost for England chances

Not or the first time this season, you were left wondering exactly where Chelsea might be without Cole Palmer, after the forward inspired his side to victory against Newcastle last night, easing the pressure on Mauricio Pochettino.

Palmer scored and assisted — both unerring strikes from outside the box, the first deftly helped into the net by Nicolas Jackson — to continue his outstanding season in front of the watching Gareth Southgate.

The result made for a more pleasant occasion for Pochettino, who was booed and abused by sections of the away support in last weekend’s draw at Brentford, although it could hardly be described as comfortable, particularly after Jacob Murphy’s 90th-minute thunderbolt reduced the deficit.

There is also a question of where Pochettino himself might be without Palmer, and the answer is surely under considerably more pressure or even out of a job.

Palmer’s excellent breakthrough campaign has not happened in a vacuum, however, and Pochettino deserves his share of the credit for the 21-year-old’s form. The head coach has set the conditions for Palmer to thrive in this young side, recognising the true extent of the playmaker’s qualities when even Pep Guardiola did not appear wholly convinced.

Whatever happens to Pochettino at Chelsea from here, Palmer will form a part of his legacy in west London and, likely, a significant one, given the former Manchester City forward is clearly destined for the top.

Of players aged under 23 in the Premier League, only Bukayo Saka (21) has more direct goal involvements than Palmer’s 19 — and the Arsenal winger is playing in a finely-tuned, title-challenging side, rather than a callow and often dysfunctional outfit like Chelsea.

Palmer proved the Blues’ biggest creative outlet again last night, making the breakthrough early in each half with characteristic finishes from range. Jackson claimed the first after a lovely flick diverted the ball safely into the bottom corner, but Palmer was the goal’s architect.

“He arrived in the last day of the transfer window and it was so easy [for him] to adapt to the team and the demands from the coaching staff,” Pochettino said. “He is doing fantastic, he is getting more mature every day and, of course, I think he still needs to improve, but is doing a very good job.”

Palmer is a cert to join Saka in Southgate’s final England squad before the European Championship on Thursday, an outcome made even likelier when Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon was forced off with an injury in the first half, and on current form he is only behind the Arsenal man and Phil Foden in the reckoning for minutes next to Harry Kane to face Brazil and Belgium.

Pochettino’s record of producing players for Southgate is still more or less unparalleled: there was a point when about a third of the England squad were seemingly from Pochettino’s Southampton or Tottenham teams, and Palmer is now poised to continue that trend.

Palmer’s second goal was particularly important, wresting back momentum from Newcastle after Alexander Isak’s outstanding finish just before the interval had levelled the score.

Raheem Sterling’s chances of returning to the England fold are less positive, however, and he missed a big opportunity at 2-1 after racing clear and wriggling away from goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, only to see his shot strike a defender on the line.

Mykhailo Mudryk did get a third for Chelsea, pinching the ball from Conor Gallagher’s toes and weaving into the box to score a fine solo effort.

Characteristically, Chelsea had gradually retreated at 1-0, looking to protect their lead and showing their inexperience, but Pochettino was encouraged by their robust response.

Naive as they are, there is something in this team, and Pochettino pointed to their two faces when he admitted they needed to be more “mature” but praised the fight of his players. “Today was great to show the players fighting, performing,” he said. “Okay, not maybe great, but caring about the team and in the end beating a team that last season was fighting for the top four and in the Champions League.

“And this season [they] have good players, it’s not easy, Newcastle are a very good team. Good credit to the team and to everyone.”

Next up for Chelsea is Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final at home to Leicester, and another potential step towards salvaging something tangible from a difficult season. You could argue, though, that Palmer’s emergence has already done that.