Noni Madueke reveals ‘unique’ Cole Palmer quality after Chelsea team-mate picks up England award

Palmer did not start a game at Euro 2024 but still beat Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka to award

Noni Madueke says “the sky is the limit” for his Chelsea and England team-mate Cole Palmer, who has been named as the national team’s player of the year.

Palmer finished ahead of Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka, in second and third respectively, in the award voted for by England supporters, despite not starting at a game at the summer’s European Championship.

The forward has scored twice in nine England appearances, including a brilliant strike in the defeat to Spain in the Euros final.

Palmer was outstanding in a breakthrough campaign for Chelsea last season, scoring 22 times in the Premier League, and he has continued where he left off this term, with six goals and five assists in his first seven appearances in the top-flight.

“Cole is a phenomenal player,” said Madueke, who is hoping to line-up alongside his clubmate in England’s Nations League games against Greece and Finland this week.

“In terms of the best player in the world, I don’t know if I should be the one to decide that.

“I think the sky’s the limit for him. I don’t know if he has a ceiling. I don’t know what his ceiling is. But I feel like the form that he’s showing now is incredible. And I just hope he can continue that.

“Me and Cole have a great relationship off the pitch and on the pitch as well. So it’s always fun playing with him, I get to play with him every week. It would be fun if we can get to play with each other for England, definitely.

“Cole’s a very unique player. A type of player that doesn’t feel pressure, in the most pressurised situations. I admire that about him. He’s a great footballer. And I’m sure he’s going to produce for England, just as he does for Chelsea.

“It’s just his demeanour really, he’s just relaxed. He’s just as relaxed off the pitch as he is on the pitch. That’s just him. Some people are just like that.

“That’s his character. And it works for him on the pitch. Some people have a character where they’re relaxed off the pitch but know they need to really focus and really zone in.

“I’m not saying that Cole’s not zoned in when he’s on the pitch, but I feel that Cole’s just unique in that sense, where he can just go on the pitch, play the game, have fun, play the game to enjoy it, and he’ll produce anyway. That’s just him.”

England’s interim head coach, Lee Carsley, has spoken about the importance of connections in his England squad, and Madueke and Palmer have linked up impressively for Enzo Maresca’s new-look Blues side this season.

The winger, who came through the ranks at Tottenham before joining PSV Eindhoven, says he and Palmer have been friends since long before they both moved to Stamford Bridge in summer 2023.

“It’s a good connection,” Madueke said. “Firstly we’ve been playing with each other for a very long time now, since we were Under-15 here at England.

“I feel like that’s one thing. I feel like we’re very good friends off the pitch, so he probably looks for me a lot, just as I look for him. He’s got a killer pass, and I’m very dynamic, so I think it just works.

“We just bounce off each other. I think we have a similar outlook on things. And how we approach games. Wre’re just good friends. Of course when he helps me do well, and I help him do well, I think that relationship then grows. I think that’s really what it is.”

Madueke marked his England debut against Finland last month by setting up Harry Kane’s second goal of the night, as the captain celebrated his 100th cap in style.

“[Cars] said I should have scored,” Madueke said. “But he said I did well, created a goal, played my game. He only ever asks me to play my game.

“My England debut was great. First and foremost we won the game. Assisting the second goal was great, especially assisting Harry on that historic night for him as well. I was very pleased. Hopefully more great memories in an England shirt to come.”