Gary Neville’s comments about Cole Palmer have resurfaced.
Palmer struck four goals in his side’s 6-0 thrashing over Everton, netting a hat-trick inside 29 minutes and adding his 20th Premier League goal of the season in the second half.
His haul saw him move top of the scorers list, level with Erling Haaland in the race for the Golden Boot - a feat even more remarkable given he secured his move to Chelsea last summer having never netted a league goal.
Palmer also has nine assists from his 28 Premier League games this season, while he has a chance conversion rate of 33 per cent and a high shot accuracy of 67 per cent.
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On average the England international has scored a goal with every 104 minutes played.
Palmer has exceeded all expectations since sealing his £42million switch to the Blues from Manchester City in the summer window’s transfer deadline day.
Indeed, speaking on his Sky Sports podcast back in September, Neville said Palmer was part of Chelsea’s “mad” transfer strategy under Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital.
The ex-United skipper said: "It's just a little bit mad, isn't it? It's chaotic.
“The amount of players they have signed. I saw Palmer come on today who they bought for £40million from City and you think, 'There's another one'".
Of course, Neville’s comments have not aged well.
On Monday Palmer became the first Chelsea player to score a first-half hat-trick in the Premier League and just the second player to score a hat-trick in successive home Premier League appearances for the club after Didier Drogba in May/August of 2010.
The 21-year-old also became the first Chelsea player to score in seven successive Premier League appearances at Stamford Bridge.
"It all happens so fast," Palmer told Sky Sports. "The first one was my favourite, my right foot was a bit of a swinger!"
Topics: Chelsea, Cole Palmer, Erling Haaland, Gary Neville, Premier League, Todd Boehly
Chris Byfield