Premier League talking points: Palmer returns to City, super Saka, Newcastle back pains

One of last summer's most surprising moves was Cole Palmer's decision to switch treble winners Manchester City for Chelsea.

Palmer scored for City in the season-opening Community Shield against Arsenal and again in the Uefa Super Cup win over Sevilla. But that victory over the Spanish side was his last appearance before moving to West Londonin search of regular first-team football.

The 21-year-old attacking midfielder revealed in an interview with Sky Sports in January that a loan move was his preference but Pep Guardiola told him: “You either 'stay or you get sold'.”

Over three seasons at City, he made 41 appearances, scored six goals and provided two assists, playing a total of 1,482 minutes. But in six months at Stamford Bridge, Palmer has played 28 matches, scoring 12 goals and supplied nine assists over 2,178 minutes of game time.

One of those goals came against his old club in November when he scored a last-gasp leveller from the penalty spot to earn his team a point after a pulsating 4-4 home draw.

"I have been surprised by how well it's gone here so quickly, but I always back myself to succeed," Palmer said on Thursday.

"I'm looking forward to going back to the Etihad. It will be strange, a weird feeling, but I'm looking forward to it and the team's looking forward to it."

One midfielder who did secure a loan move away from the Etihad Stadium is Kalvin Phillips, although his start to life at West Ham United has not exactly gone to plan.

In his first match for the Hammers, Phillips passed the ball straight to Dominic Solanke who put Bournemouth in front inside three minutes, with the game finishing in a 1-1 draw.

He dropped to the bench for the next game at Manchester United, appearing as a second-half substitute