Chelsea have been dealt a fresh injury setback with Cole Palmer reportedly missing the club’s latest training session amid concerns over a recurring groin problem. The 23-year-old England international has endured a disrupted start to the season, having already missed matches against West Ham and Fulham before limping off in the Blues’ 2-1 defeat to Manchester United last weekend.
Palmer’s struggles began earlier this month when he lasted just 21 minutes in Chelsea’s 2-2 draw at Brentford on September 13 after returning from the same injury. He then sat out the Carabao Cup win over Lincoln City in midweek, and according to Sky Sports, he was absent again from Thursday’s open training session at Cobham.
Maresca urges Chelsea to adapt without Palmer
Head coach Enzo Maresca acknowledged that Chelsea are undoubtedly stronger with Palmer in the side but stressed the need for his squad to find alternative solutions when their talisman is unavailable.
“We need him, no doubt. With Cole we are a better team. But when Cole is not available, we need to find solutions and ways to win games,” Maresca said, referencing previous positive results against West Ham and Fulham.
The Italian manager emphasised the importance of not rushing Palmer back too soon, pointing to the heavy workload his players faced during the summer with the Club World Cup and a shortened pre-season.
“It’s an injury that isn’t black and white. Some days you can be better, some days worse. That’s why we need to manage him day by day,” Maresca explained.
When will Palmer return?
Chelsea are preparing for a demanding run of fixtures, starting with a Premier League clash against Brighton on Saturday. They then continue their Champions League campaign at home to Benfica on Tuesday before hosting defending champions Liverpool on October 4.
With Palmer’s influence highlighted by 58 goal contributions in just 98 Premier League appearances, his availability could prove decisive in how Chelsea fare in this crucial stretch. For now, though, the Blues face an anxious wait to see when their attacking talisman will be ready to return.
