'Long may Palmer remain exactly as he is'

Cole Palmer should "remain exactly as he is" as he continues to go from strength to strength at Chelsea, says BBC Radio 5 Live chief football correspondent John Murray.

The 22-year-old forward was coolness personified as he tucked away a 'Panenka' penalty at 3-2 in a frantic game against Tottenham on Sunday.

Along with being calm on the pitch, his demeanour in post-match interviews remains just as relaxed when answering questions on his performances.

"Cole Palmer appears to have it all in whatever aspect of his life you look at," Murray told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast.

"He has that 2020s everyman appeal. A man, in public at least, of few words, who looks like he'd rather be in a hoodie and trackie bottoms than in the spotlight. Apart from on the pitch that is, when he appears oblivious to the many millions who are hanging on his every delightful touch.

"Enzo Maresca said last night that since he's been at Chelsea he has not seen Palmer practising penalties, yet he's scored all 12 he's taken in the Premier League, culminating in that nerveless 'Panenka' spot-kick that turned out to be the eventual match-winner.

"Long may Cole Palmer remain exactly as he is."

With the result leaving Chelsea in second place in the Premier League, Murray believes that Maresca's "clear' thinking is getting them where they need to be.

"After two and a half years under this current ownership, and well in excess of a billion pounds spent on new players, when at times Chelsea have looked almost like a basket-case, it finally looks like they are going places," Murray added.

"Remember how they finished 12th and sixth in the first two seasons?

"Mauricio Pochettino eventually got the ship pointing in the right direction in his final months as manager but Enzo Maresca has shown himself to be a clear thinker who has very obviously seen the wood from the trees."