With two goals and one assist in the first two Premier League games of 2026-27, it looked as though Cole Palmer had finally turned a corner. The injury woes of last season were over, he’d found a home alongside Joao Pedro and close friend Morgan Rogers in the Chelsea attack, and he was primed for a stellar campaign.

The reality hasn’t quite lived up to that billing. Instead, Palmer has now been left out of England’s squad for the upcoming internationals against Croatia and Spain, and there will almost certainly be questions about Chelsea’s recent decision to reward him with a lucrative new contract valid until 2034.

On his day, Palmer is unstoppable. It has very rarely been his day for over 12 months, though.

It’s almost impossible to accurately judge Palmer’s form last season due to a persistent groin injury that plagued his entire campaign, but it must still surely be a source of concern for the Chelsea hierarchy.

When asked to describe the issue during the final few weeks of the season, the 24-year-old told reporters: “An injury that hasn't got a timeframe on it. It's not like a muscle injury where you can say it'll take eight weeks.

“I couldn't even sprint. I could just about pass it. I couldn't play long balls, couldn't even shoot. But I wanted to play so much.

“I've not lost all my ability. I've been injured.”

However, Palmer no longer has the excuse of being injured and yet his form has been underwhelming since a starring display versus Brighton & Hove Albion in August.

The England international only has one goal - a penalty versus Manchester United - and two assists in his last seven Premier League matches, while he was recently sent off during a 2-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur.

The aforementioned Rogers is now the clear superstar in Chelsea’s attack, alongside Pedro, and the performance of Estevao Willian against Man Utd suggests that Palmer’s place in the starting XI should no longer be guaranteed.

The Brazil international unquestionably outshone Palmer at Stamford Bridge last weekend and given the pair like to operate in similar areas on the pitch, this could soon pose a problem for Xabi Alonso.

Chelsea need Cole Palmer to start delivering again

Less than 18 months ago, Palmer produced a mesmeric performance as Chelsea cruised to a 3-0 win over reigning Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup final at the MetLife Stadium.

He glided across the pitch with effortless verve in New Jersey and that player remains a world superstar. The question is: is that player still there?

That performance against PSG was a prime example of Palmer is his unplayable pomp. It was him at his 2023-24 best. We’ve seen that in flashes this term, but such moments have been fleeting and it’s his consistency that is becoming an issue.

During his debut season, there was a sense of inevitability about Palmer. When would he score? Not if. That’s not the case anymore.

Following Palmer’s exclusion from the England squad, multiple reports have confirmed that he is fully fit. So, there is no health reason behind his recent dip in form.

Trademark Cole. ™️ https://t.co/oo75yi6Ct7

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) September 23, 2026

By rewarding him with a lucrative new contract, Chelsea clearly believe Palmer can rediscover his best level under Alonso, while the Englishman evidently has no real desire to leave Stamford Bridge, despite reports to the contrary.

However, the Blues have consistently shown they are willing to offload players for the right price - as shown by the sales of Enzo Fernandez and Marc Cucurella this summer - and if a tempting offer was submitted for Palmer, would they really dismiss it with no thought?

With a fit and firing Palmer, Chelsea have one of the world’s best players at their disposal. And for that reason alone, a sale should be avoided unless absolutely necessary.

However, while he looked back to his best during the first two games of the new Premier League season, Palmer’s form since club football returned in October has been fairly subpar and it’s up to Alonso to use his man-management skills to extract the Englishman’s true potential for the remainder of the 2026-27 campaign.

Ultimately, Palmer is a victim of his own success, but Chelsea have been waiting for him to put together a string of sensational performances for 12 months. Given his talent and salary, they can’t wait forever.