‘Amazing’: Owen Hargreaves says what Chelsea loanee has done this season is truly ‘remarkable’
Owen Hargreaves says that it’s been “remarkable” how well Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher has been playing out on loan with Crystal Palace this season.
Gallagher, 22, is currently enjoying a brilliant season-long loan spell at Selhurst Park with Palace.
The box-to-box midfielder has been a nailed-on starter for Patrick Vieira’s side when fit, scoring seven goals and making five assists in 23 appearances so far this season in all competitions.
He’s yet to make his first-team Chelsea debut since progressing through the academy, but everything this season suggests he’s ready for a senior breakthrough at Stamford Bridge next term. Of course, that decision will be down to Blues manager Thomas Tuchel when he returns from his Palace loan in the summer.
Pundit Hargreaves has waxed lyrical about the way the central midfielder has been playing this campaign.
“Amazing. Honestly, he could be in the Team of the Year in the Premier League,” Hargreaves told BT Sport.
“For such a young boy on loan from Chelsea, he’s got a super bright future ahead of him.
“Most goals for this Palace team, most assists. It’s remarkable really. He gets into some great positions. He’s always there when it’s important… He’s always active. He presses the ball really well. He’s just got the lot.”
Chelsea will require another step
Gallagher’s performances this season mean he’s simply got to be given a fair shot to break into Tuchel’s squad next season. Incidentally, Jack Wilshere recently said he thinks Tuchel would take to him as a player.
The excited Blues fanbase need to try keep a lid on expectation for now, though.
It’s all pointing in the right direction for him to be the latest product out of Cobham to play in the Chelsea side, especially after his form at Palace lead to a senior England call-up.
However, it’ll be a different kind of pressure playing every week at the Bridge.
He’s absolutely brilliant in a box-to-box role with the timing of his runs, but Chelsea will need to work out how he would slot into their system.
In addition, he’d go from competing with Palace teammates to some of the world’s elite midfielders in N’Golo Kante, Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic.
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