'I play with Cole Palmer and he is very unique, phenomenal - the sky is the limit'

He had limited game time at but was still voted the England Men’s Player of the Year for last season.

The fact he has made just two starts since his debut in November 2023 didn’t bother the fans, who decided he has been the outstanding Three Lions player over the last year.

And it is clear one of his team-mates - for club and for country - would not disagree with the supporters’ verdict. Noni Madueke has known Palmer for a long time, having played alongside him in the junior ranks. And the way Palmer combines a laid-back attitude with a razor-sharp game still continues to amaze Madueke.

"Cole is a very unique player - a type of player that doesn't feel pressure, in the most pressurised situations," declares Madueke. "I feel Cole's unique in the sense he can just go on the pitch, play the game, have fun, play the game to enjoy it … and he'll produce anyway. That's just him."

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Palmer has made such an impression at that some observers believe there is no better attacking midfielder in the game right now.

Madueke is not sure but says: "Listen, Cole is a phenomenal player. In terms of the best player in the ? I don't know if I should be the one to decide that.

"But I think the sky's the limit for him. I don't know if he has a ceiling. I don't know what his ceiling is but I feel like the form that he's showing now is incredible."

Palmer was missing from Lee Carsley’s first England squad but Madueke made his debut when coming on as a substitute and providing an assist for in And Madueke is hoping he can form an on-field dynamic with Palmer at international level that is similar to the one they have at club level.

Madueke explains: “Me and Cole have a great relationship off the pitch and on the pitch as well. It would be fun if we can get to play with each other for England definitely.

"We just bounce off each other. I think we have a similar outlook on things.

"We have a good connection. Firstly, we’ve been playing with each other for a very long time now, since we were Under-15 here at England. And we are very good friends off the pitch, so he probably looks for me a lot, just as I look for him. He's got a killer pass, and I'm very dynamic, so I think it just works."

And having Carsley as England boss certainly works for Madueke, even though the interim manager should have done slightly better on his debut. Madueke smiles: "He (Carsley) said I should have scored. But he said I did well, created a goal, played my game.

"He's a very hands-on coach. He likes to communicate his ideas on the pitch - and take control of sessions. Carsball? That's funny. I quite like it.

"Tactically, he's very good. I'm super happy that he's the manager, that’s for sure."

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