Alan Brazil thinks there’s a current player in the Chelsea ranks that can actually learn a lot from Cole Palmer.

It’s no secret now that Cole Palmer, 21, has set the tone all season for this inconsistent Chelsea team at Stamford Bridge.

Following last night’s 2-0 win for the Blues at home to Tottenham, they’re still in the race to finish in the European positions. We dread to think where the side would have finished in the Premier League this year without Palmer, though.

Alan Brazil suggests Chelsea star needs to be more like Cole Palmer

TalkSPORT’s Alan Brazil has delivered a glowing verdict on the individual quality of Palmer. In particular, he’s highlighted the extremely high footballing IQ that the attacking playmaker has in his game.

On top of that, he’s said that Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson, 22, has a lot to learn when it comes to that area of his game.

The £32m striker (The Guardian) is guilty of lacking the final bit of quality in his game, albeit he’s now up to 11 Premier League goals during his debut Blues season after scoring yesterday in the Spurs result.

Brazil said on talkSPORT (9:10am, 3 May): “Don’t take this the wrong way, people. But Palmer is a thinking man’s footballer. Not only is he great on the ball, can score goals, cracking goals, set pieces, brilliant, but he is always looking about. Before the ball comes to him, he knows what’s on. Jackson, on the other hand, I know he is only young, and so is Palmer, Jackson to me, football IQ, he has got a lot to learn.”

We’d love to be able to sprinkle some of Palmer’s football intelligence across the rest of the squad, but he’s unique and special talent in the ranks.

Nicolas Jackson better than people think

We concede Jackson’s finishing is still way off and his decision-making around the box can be better, but let’s remember the youngster is aged 22 leading the line for a shaky club.

If you look at Jackson’s overall game, he actually ticks so many boxes as the all-round player. His movement off the ball and into the channels is that of a top-quality attacker.

Speaking via Sky Sports during Chelsea’s win over Spurs, Gary Neville admitted he does actually like Jackson as a player and his desire to never stop.

Our message would be for fans not to give up on the centre-forward just yet.

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