Cole Palmer on Xabi Alonso's Impact at Chelsea

Cole Palmer says Xabi Alonso has unlocked a new version of him at Chelsea – by tearing up the map and telling him to roam.

The 24-year-old has opened the season sharply, scoring and assisting in Monday night’s 3-2 Premier League win over Fulham, a performance that underlined his growing influence in Alonso’s reshaped attack.

Last season drained him. After a brilliant first year at Stamford Bridge, Palmer’s form dipped, his fitness wavered and his momentum stalled badly enough that he missed out on England’s World Cup squad. Now he looks like a player handed the keys back.

Alonso, appointed in the summer after a chaotic campaign that ended with Chelsea 10th and both Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior losing their jobs, has wasted no time in changing the way his creative hub operates.

“He [Alonso] just said I'd have more freedom to drift about the pitch,” Palmer told Sky Sports. “Just like you saw [against Fulham] with the goal I scored.

“Last season, I wouldn't have even made that run because it's not a ‘safe zone’. But he's saying move across that zone, drop into play, come get on the ball, create and just do what you do.”

That licence was obvious against Fulham. Palmer popped up between the lines, slid wide, then surged into spaces he admits he would previously have ignored. The “safe zones” are gone. Risk is back on the menu.

Alonso has been backed to build around that kind of invention. The former Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid boss arrived early in the window and Chelsea moved decisively to arm him, spending more than £100m to bring in Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa and deepen the attacking midfield pool.

It has created a new-look trio: Joao Pedro, Palmer and Rogers. Fans have already christened them “JP Morgan” – a nickname that has stuck online but not in the dressing room.

“It's a rubbish name,” Palmer laughed. “We need to come up with something better than that.

“I think we've got a different mix of qualities. Joao can do a bit of everything. Morgan's more physical and I'm more technical, so I think we've got a good balance.”

Balance is exactly what Chelsea lacked last season. Now they have a manager encouraging risk, a frontline with variety, and a playmaker who’s been told to stop playing safe.

If Palmer keeps thriving in this new freedom, the conversation around Chelsea’s season – and his place on the international stage – could change very quickly.