Cole Palmer reveals why he wanted the number 10 shirt at Chelsea

Chelsea star Cole Palmer has revealed why he wanted to take the number 10 shirt at Stamford Bridge this season.

The Englishman said he took the number in order to emulate his footballing idols Lionel Messi and Wayne Rooney.

The 23-year-old previously played with No. 20 on his back but changed ahead of the Club World Cup and wore his new number for the first time in Monday's 2-0 win over Los Angeles FC.

Asked if there were any number 10s he particularly saw as role models, Palmer said: "Messi, the big one, Rooney and players like that. It's just an iconic number. I wore No. 10 all my life growing up, and I just like the number."

Former Chelsea greats Eden Hazard, Joe Cole and Willian wore the number 10 shirt, but it was most recently taken by Mykhailo Mudryk, who is facing a potential ban of up to four years after the Football Association charged him on Wednesday with a doping offence relating to a positive drugs test.

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However, Palmer said that he has not spoken to Mudryk in the aftermath of the incident. "I have not spoken to Misha yet but I will when the time is right," said Palmer. "It is not really my place to get involved with him at the minute. I will speak to him."

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