Martin Keown names Chelsea ace who holds the key to get Cole Palmer thriving again | OneFootball

Arsenal legend Martin Keown believes Chelsea can use Christopher Nkunku to help Cole Palmer get back to his best form.

The Blues are currently on a run of two wins from their last nine league games following the 3-0 defeat to Brighton last week.

Chelsea have now dropped to sixth in the league and are embroiled in a fierce battle to qualify for the Champions League next season.

Keown on how Nkunku can help Palmer

Enzo Maresca has somewhat of a striker crisis currently with Marc Guiu sidelined indefinitely, whilst Nicolas Jackson is set to be out until April with a hamstring injury.

Nkunku led the line for the two games against Brighton, but made no impact at all and Tony Cascarino slammed Enzo Maresca for picking him.

The 27-year-old has struggled this season and he’s played second fiddle to Jackson, although he’s scored 13 goals in all competitions, just two of those have come in the league.

Nkunku really struggled against Brighton. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images)

Nkunku is set for a key role over the final 13 games and it’s on Maresca to find a way to use him that gets the best from the France international.

Palmer has also struggled recently and hasn’t scored in his last five games in all competitions for the Blues, but Keown has claimed Nkunku can help him rediscover his form.

“Chelsea need Nkunku to stretch the play for Palmer to help them to be more creative,” he wrote in his Mail Sport column.

“With Noni Madueke also injured, Pedro Neto and Jadon Sancho need to start contributing goals and assists. For too long, Maresca has relied too heavily on the Jackson-Palmer axis.”

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It appears Nkunku’s long term future doesn’t lie at Stamford Bridge and he’s believed to have agreed personal terms with German giants Bayern Munich, who could offer players as part of a deal.

However, he’s got a job to do for the remainder of the season and Chelsea really need him to step up, starting with the trip to Aston Villa on Saturday.