Cole Palmer's form has dipped since his Ballon d'Or nomination, with Chelsea's medical staff monitoring his recurring groin injury closely. The PFA Young Player of the Year has struggled to replicate his 2024 brilliance, scoring just nine league goals since January compared to 36 in the previous 12 months. His penalty conversion rate remains elite, but overall output has declined significantly.

Burnout appears to be a major factor, with Palmer playing 112 games over three consecutive summers without a proper break. He competed in the European Championship, Club World Cup, and Under-21 European Championship, followed by Chelsea's demanding schedule. The 23-year-old has admitted he's "not there physically" despite scoring a hat-trick against Wolves in February.

Curiously, Chelsea's results have actually improved without Palmer, winning 73% of games compared to 24% with him playing. The team averages 2.2 goals per game without their star forward versus 1.5 with him. Manager Liam Rosenior insists Palmer is fit for Wednesday's match against Aston Villa, but the statistics suggest Chelsea may need to manage their talisman carefully to restore his world-class form.