Our No10 found it difficult to match the brilliant form of his previous two campaigns with the Blues last season, when his efforts were hindered by injury.

However, joined in the line-up by old friend and new team-mate Rogers, under the guidance of manager Alonso, he has made a strong start to the 2026/27 Premier League.

That was seen when he provided the assist for Joao Pedro to give us the lead just 31 seconds into our league opener, Rogers also getting on the score sheet before Palmer netted the winner himself, in a 3-2 victory over Fulham.

‘I just felt joy, really, and a bit of disbelief, because I didn't think we were going to score that quick,’ admitted Palmer.

That win at Craven Cottage was the first glimpse of former Manchester City academy team-mates Palmer and Rogers in competitive action together for Chelsea, combining to provide the creative spark.

‘I think we're two different players,’ Cole added, when asked about that combination with Morgan. ‘He's more physical, more powerful and stuff, and I'm more technical and whatnot.

‘I just told him [when he joined] that he'll make a big difference. We're signing other players as well, so we're going to have a good team and we can do something good.’

As well as new team-mates, Palmer is playing under a new manager, following Alonso’s arrival in the dugout over the summer, and shared the main message he received from the Spaniard.

‘He just said to be free, because he knows what I can do when I feel good and I feel like I can go wherever on the pitch and find areas where I can cause damage. That's what he's told me.’

All of that leaves Palmer confident he can be back at his very best in 2026/27, although he revealed it is the mental impact of playing free of injury which he believes will make the biggest difference.

‘There were many things last season. Mainly just injury, though. It's just like, because you've been injured and then you're going out thinking, “oh, can I do certain things?”, kind of overthinking things.

‘It’s like, you're not doing things that you used to be able to do because previously it would hurt if you did it and whatnot. But I'm over that now.’

The evidence of that is clear on the pitch, after Palmer helped us open the new season with a league win over Fulham before booking our place in the Carabao Cup third round by beating Luton Town on Thursday evening.

Next up, Palmer and Rogers will be hoping to combine to great effect again in our first home Premier League game of 2026/27, when we host Brighton & Hove Albion at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.