Mikel insists Palmer shouldn't be likened to Chelsea great with 10 consecutive double-digit seasons

Former Super Eagles midfielder John Obi Mike believes Chelsea star Cole Palmer isn't yet at the level of Frank Lampard, off the back of the comparison between the Manchester City Academy product and the Blues' icon.

Palmer has been a revelation since he arrived at Stamford Bridge from the Citizens in the summer of 2023, standing out to be one of the best players in Chelsea and the Premier League.

He won several laurels last season, including the Premier League Player of the Month once and the Goal of the Month on two occasions, and at the end of the season, he scooped the Premier League Young Player of the Year Award, among others.

The 22-year-old hasn't started this season as he did last term but stole the headlines last weekend when he became the first player to score four goals before half-time of a Premier League game against Brighton & Hove Albion.

Palmer's performances have led to comparison with Lampard, but Mikel believes the former still has some work to do to match the heroics of the Chelsea legend, who scored double digits in ten straight seasons during his time at Stamford Bridge. 

Speaking on The Obi One Podcast, the retired Nigerian midfielder stated that it is not right to compare the England international with Lampard despite his magnificent talent.

"Again let's calm down a bit guys, 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 you know, he needs to keep improving year in, year out, I just don't like it when people start to compare his numbers with obviously Frank Lampard  who scored double figures 10 years in a row, there is a reason why he is called Super Frank you know the guy was 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 disrespect to Frank but I think that comparison shouldn't be there now.”

Lampard is Chelsea's all-time top scorer with 211 goals scored in 648 appearances during his trophy-laden career at the West London club.

Palmer’s goal tally is miles off that of the one-time Premier League Player of the Season, having netted just 31 goals in 53 games, which places him 50th in the Blues’ all-time top-scorers chart.

Abdulkareem Abdulhamid

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