Palmer has shone for Chelsea since arriving at Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2023. He has won several individual awards for his performances and has contributed to 55 goals in his 61 Premier League outings in blue.

Twenty of those have come during the current campaign – 14 goals and six assists – but six matches have now passed with the England international's name being etched onto the score sheet.

Not that Maresca is concerned. The Chelsea head coach, who worked with Palmer at Manchester City, is certain the 23-year-old will emerge stronger than ever from his lean spell in front of goal.

He said: ‘Cole Palmer is a human being and all human beings, all big players, all normal players, all the people at big clubs, all big managers, we go through a bad moment or moments where we struggle to score.

‘At this moment, Cole struggles to score, but he’s happy and he knows exactly it’s something normal. He knows that all the big players go through moments like this.

‘It’s about how you react and he’s reacting perfectly. He’s laughing, he’s happy. He has to enjoy football and, for sure, we don’t have any doubt he is going to score more goals.

‘Cole is a player I have known for a long time. I know him from five or six years ago [at Manchester City] and I’ve said many times he’s a top player and a top guy because he enjoys football and is so happy.

'When we don’t win or he doesn’t score he looks frustrated, but it’s normal. We are completely happy with him. He is happy and he knows what is happening in this moment is completely normal.’

At the opposite end of the pitch, Filip Jorgensen earned his first Premier League clean sheet on Tuesday evening as the Blues overcame Southampton 4-0 at Stamford Bridge.

The Danish Under-21 international produced one particularly eye-catching save to deny Paul Onuachu in the first half of the contest, but it was his constant willingness to take responsibility in possession that Maresca highlighted following the victory.

‘My message to Filip was, “If you play long balls I will change you”. So he was just doing what I told him,' the Blues head coach explained.

‘It’s difficult for Filip, it was difficult for Robert (Sanchez), when he was playing, I think it’s difficult for all the keepers, but they are just following the plan.’