Ben Foster has said that one player has flourished in the Premier League since leaving Manchester City.
The previous summer transfer window saw numerous players make moves in and out of the Etihad Stadium either on loan deals, as free agents or for transfer fees permanently.
Now though, with just three games left to play, the Citizens are once again in the frame to win the Premier League title and strengthen their status as the best team in the country.
Despite that, one player the Blues waved goodbye to last summer has found himself on the end of some significant praise for what he’s done since leaving City.
Foster wowed by former Man City player this season
In a recent video shared on the Premier League’s YouTube channel where he discussed this season’s contenders for the Young Player of the Year award, Foster had this to say about Cole Palmer and his efforts for Chelsea in this campaign.
He said: “I’m going to go out and say it, I think this might be the most impressive breakthrough season from a young English player ever. I’ve been so impressed with him this year.
“His energy levels are up there with the best I’ve seen, never stops running. His enthusiasm to want to get on the ball, to want to manufacture something, he wants to drag his team up the pitch.
“You’re talking about a 22-year-old lad here and he’s the one leading that team. The guy in charge of taking penalties, that responsibility is on him already, I love it, I just love it.
“He’s the player that gets fans in the stadium, a player that gets them off the seats, he is that guy.
“I talk about energy levels, you see in the 98th minute against Manchester United, it’s an end-to-end game, everybody is on their knees, but he’s still the one looking for the ball on the edge of the 18-yard box.
“Nobody else paying attention to him, he’s still got that drive to want to go and get the ball, there’s no surprise when he does get the ball he puts it in the back of the net and wins the game for Chelsea.
“Those little moments there, you can’t teach that sometimes.”
Cole Palmer has shone since leaving Man City
City sold the winger to Chelsea in a deal worth £42.5m after he appeared in the Manchester club’s Community Shield match against Arsenal, their opening Premier League game of the season against Burnley and their UEFA SuperCup final against Sevilla.
Since joining the West London side, Palmer has scored 24 goals and provided 13 assists in 42 games, which is one more appearance than he made for City’s senior side during his time at the club.
The Englishman’s overall performances have earned the 22-year-old a solid season rating of 7.48/10 from WhoScored, making him the sixth-highest-rated player in the entire division, putting him above players such as Erling Haaland (7.44/10) and Declan Rice (7.4/10).
Taking all of that into account, it’s easy to see why Foster has been so impressed by what he’s seen from the former City youngster this season now that he’s been able to take the opportunities that have come his way to show what he’s capable of.
