Kasey Palmer looks for a win and bragging rights over Tammy Abraham in Chelsea loan war

Kasey Palmer has laid Chelsea loan army bragging rights on the line as his Huddersfield Town face Tammy Abraham and Bristol City this weekend. Both players and clubs aim to regain their top early-season form and impress the Blues.

Back when Chelsea were scratching out wins, drawing with mid-table teams and losing to top-four teams, the loan army was sometimes the best source of upbeat news. Fortunately, we have not had much reason to dig through the 38 loanees over the last 8 match weeks to find highlights and positives.

Two of Chelsea’s top loanees square off this weekend in the Championship. Huddersfield Town hope that Kasey Palmer will return to top form and power the team back to the top of the promotion battle. Huddersfield Town led the Championship earlier in the season, but are now in eighth place. Meanwhile, Tammy Abraham will look to reignite his scoring touch against them. A win for Abraham and the Robins will pull Bristol City level with Huddersfield.

Palmer wants Abraham to regain his form, but not quite yet.

"Hopefully he breaks into the first team as much as I want to, but I think we will stop him at the weekend. If the boss asks I will tell him what to watch out for from Tammy… It is always good to play against people that you have played with in the past, the banter is good and hopefully we get the three points and the bragging rights end up with me. – Goal"

Palmer attributes Huddersfield Town’s recent drop to “silly little mistakes,” which cost them games and, ultimately, seven spots on the table. He credits his team for a consistent and smart style of play that will win games once they overcome the costly, momentary lapses.

"I think it is more important to get the performances in order, then the results will come after the performances… I think if we can be more clinical than we have been then results will be as they were at the start of the season."

The best way for Bristol City to stymie Kasey Palmer’s hopes is for Tammy Abraham to find his way to the back of the net. Abraham started the season on a torrid goal streak. He led the Championship in goals, and at one point had over twice as many goals as the Robins’ second-best scorer.

Abraham has since cooled off but still remains the Robins’ – and the loan army’s – top offensive threat. Palmer has played alongside Abraham to know that any dip in Abraham’s performance will be short-lived, and will be sure his side do not underestimate their opponent.

“He is a threat in the box so he is always going to score goals at whatever level,” Palmer said of Abraham. “What he shows in the Championship, I personally believe, that he can show that in the Premier League.”

As Chelsea assess their short-term and long-term needs heading into the January transfer window, the loan army will be extra keen to impress. Any incoming transfers will delay the loanees’ rise to the first team. Tammy Abraham will not want to give Chelsea any reason to consider a stop-gap striker to slot in above him and Bertrand Traore in the depth chart.