Glen Johnson Urges Mauricio Pochettino to Utilize Cole Palmer in a Central Position

Former professional footballer Glen Johnson has advised Mauricio Pochettino to deploy Cole Palmer in a central position rather than on the wings. Johnson believes that Palmer may not possess the necessary strength and speed to excel in a wide role.

Palmer recently joined Chelsea from Manchester City during the summer transfer window and has quickly established himself as a key player at Stamford Bridge. Since breaking into the first team in October, the English international has scored four goals and provided two assists in his last five Premier League matches. He has primarily played on the right side of attack in a front three alongside Nicolas Jackson and Raheem Sterling.

However, Johnson suggests that Palmer’s true potential can be unlocked if he is utilized in a central role. With Conor Gallagher performing exceptionally well in the midfield, Palmer has mostly played on the right. Johnson describes the 21-year-old as “the real deal” and believes he can thrive in a more central position.

“Cole Palmer has been doing great,” Johnson told Squawka. “He looks calm on the ball, enjoys his football, and I think he’s the real deal. I prefer to see him in the middle, behind the striker. At the moment, I don’t think he’s quick or strong enough to take on defenders one-on-one. He excels at receiving the ball on the half turn and making clever passes into strikers. He’s an intelligent player who can play through the lines in the middle, and that’s where Chelsea should use him.”

Chelsea currently occupies the 10th position in the Premier League standings. Their next match is against Newcastle United at St James’ Park on Saturday.

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