Palmer lifts Poch pressure and boosts his Euros chances

Youngster makes the difference in vital win

- Dan Kilpatrick

NOT FOR 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.