Chelsea cult hero John Obi Mikel insists Cole Palmer cannot be compared to Frank Lampard despite the Blues forward’s remarkable first year in West London. In-form forward Palmer has shone in the opening months of the Premier League season and has already equalled a major feat achieved by Lampard at Stamford Bridge.
The 22-year-old struck a remarkable four goals during Chelsea’s 4-2 win over Brighton on Saturday. His strikes mean the England international has already scored three hat-tricks in a little over a year since joining from Manchester City.
That total takes Palmer ahead of Eden Hazard’s two trios and equal with Lampard, Didier Drogba and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who also all scored three. To match a goal record set by Lampard, an extremely prolific midfielder, is a huge achievement.
But Mikel is unhappy with fans comparing Lampard and Palmer, although refrained from saying it was ‘disrespectful’. Lampard is Chelsea’s record goal-scorer with 211 strikes in 648 appearances.
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"Again let's calm down a bit guys,” Mikel said on his Obi One Podcast when the comparison was raised by another guest.
“He is an amazing footballer, he is an amazing talent, all we have to do as fans, as ex-players is to support and encourage the boy because there is so much talent there, so much quality to become in the future a legend, a top player.
"Right now he is a talent. He needs to keep improving year in, year out. I just don't like it when people start to compare his numbers with Frank Lampard, who scored double figures 10 years in a row. There is a reason why he is called Super Frank. The guy was an absolute machine of a midfielder.
"He was a midfielder, he was a number eight, he was a box-to-box number eight, so for me you know that comparison shouldn't come now, not at all.
"I just feel it is a little bit… not [disrespectful] to Frank, but I think that comparison shouldn't be there now.”
Palmer, who has scored 31 goals and notched 19 assists for Chelsea, nonchalantly revealed he should have bagged more against Brighton. "I try to play every game the best I can," he told Match of the Day. "I should have had five or six.
"When I missed the first chance, I was upset, but with the way they played and their high line, I felt we'd get more chances.”
Palmer is expected to be named in Lee Carsley’s England squad for October’s matches against Greece and Finland. He pulled out of the September international break with muscle fatigue.
