Cole Palmer and Noni Madueke will be hoping to continue their rich vein of form for Chelsea when they lock horns with Bournemouth this weekend
Palmer and Madueke help Pochettino make easy Chelsea decision vs Bournemouth (Image: Photo by Christian Kaspar-Bartke – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
Cole Palmer and Noni Madueke will be hoping that their impressive performances for the England Under-21s will force themselves into the Chelsea starting lineup this weekend. Bournemouth will welcome the Blues to the Vitality Stadium on Sunday afternoon as either side hopes to return to winning ways and climb the Premier League table.
Chelsea head into the tie following a disappointing defeat to Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge, while the Cherries will be looking to pick up their first three points of the campaign after Bryan Mbuemo salvaged a point for Brentford.
While the west Londoners have improved under Pochettino, it hasn’t quite clicked in the final third yet. So, the chemistry between Palmer and Madueke – which the duo displayed for the Three Lions over the international break – could prove crucial against Bournemouth.
In the England Under-21s’ final European Championship qualifier of the month against Luxembourg, Palmer and Madueke played a major role in Lee Carsley’s side picking up three points. The former recorded a goal and an assist, while the latter also chipped in with an assist.
Palmer and Madueke’s intricate combination around the box to tee up Liam Delap caught the eye in particular. With Nicolas Jackson under pressure to add to his goal tally at Chelsea, the English duo could finally help the striker prove his critics wrong.
Following the Blues win over AFC Wimbledon in the Carabao Cup second round last month, Madueke heaped tremendous praise on Palmer and revealed how they’ve developed such a close bond on the pitch. Speaking to HaytersTV, the Chelsea winger said: “When you play for Chelsea, you play for one of the best clubs in the world.
“Of course there’s always going to be competition for places. Obviously we want to get Champions League next year so obviously we need top players in every position.
“We’re very close, me and Cole. We’ve been playing for England together since we were 14 years old, so I welcome him. I know him really well. We won the Euros together in the summer, so he’s a great lad and a great player as well.
“Obviously he grew up playing in the middle, but he plays on the left and the right. It’s what the gaffer decides, but he’s a top player and you want top players coming in the building because it helps you compete.”
With Palmer in the number ten role and Madueke on the right, Sterling could return to the left-wing with Jackson spearheading the Blues’ attack. Not to mention Mykhailo Mudryk, who will also be just as keen to etch himself into Pochettino’s starting lineup.
Soucre: football.london
