The 19-year-old made his second Premier League appearance of the season in our 2-0 win over Burnley, before grabbing a hat-trick for our Elite Development Squad just two hours later against Leicester Under-23s.
That impressive haul was followed by a first senior Champions League goal in our convincing 5-1 Champions League victory away to Club Brugge last week.
Palmer had only been on the field for three minutes when he convincingly swept home Raheem Sterling’s cutback, showing a composure which belies his tender years.
The games keep coming thick and fast for the attacking midfielder, who could feature once again in Wednesday’s Carabao Cup clash with West Ham, or for Brian Barry-Murphy‘s EDS this evening against Rotherham in the Papa John’s Trophy.
Regardless, Dickov believes the City youngster will only get better as he’s given further experience against senior opposition.
He said: “I love watching him play. I’ve loved watching him play for the Academy over the last few years and now to see him in the first team is fantastic.
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“To come on the pitch on your Champions League debut (and do that) it just shows you how confident he is, that first touch is fantastic, and his finish was so cool.
“For somebody who’s 19… a lot of players who have just come onto the pitch would lash at that chance and hope to hit the target, but he’s so composed. He’s done that time and time again.
“He’s a supernatural talent. He picks up some fantastic positions, he likes finding little pockets and taking the ball in tight spaces.”
While Palmer has impressed whenever called upon to feature for Pep Guardiola’s men, his transition into senior football has been a gradual process.
And speaking on Matchday Live, Dickov drew similarities between the 19-year-old’s upward trajectory and that of Phil Foden in recent years.
The Scot believes our no. 47’s desire to master his craft at the City Football Academy and patience to wait for his opportunity will have made an impact on both Palmer and other youngsters hoping to break into the first team.
“He’s going to get better and better but it’s about trusting the process - like Phil Foden,” Dickov reflected.
“Cole is at a stage where Phil was two or three years ago, he’s getting game time but isn’t always in the squad.
“For all the younger players, Phil Foden is the benchmark about how he handled himself and how the Club handled him, he stayed in and around the Club.
“He trusted the process and because he’s been there and done it, it makes it so much easier for the likes of Palmer, Sam Edozie and all the other fantastic talents we’ve got coming through.”
Dickov’s fellow Matchday Live guest and former City teammate Michael Brown also waxed lyrical about the Wythenshawe-born midfielder’s rapid progress in recent months.
He said: “Myself and Paul (Dickov) were sat doing the Wycombe game and were saying which players we were looking forward to seeing, and one of them was Cole Palmer,” Brown reflected.
“We got to see a little glimpse of him late on and it’s fabulous to get him started and give him more confidence.
“He’s come through all of the City sides and to still be going to play for the EDS after a Premier League game tells you all about his attitude and desire.
“He’s getting better and better.”
