Injury woes: Chelsea star Cole Palmer has been hampered by a groin problem all season so far
Chelsea Football Newsletter
Chelsea will be without Cole Palmer for six more weeks due to injury in a major blow, head coach Enzo Maresca has confirmed.
The Blues’ attacking talisman has been struggling with a lingering groin issue all season and last played in the defeat at Manchester United on September 20, when he was substituted early.
Palmer was rested for the final handful of games before the October international break following a new plan agreed with Chelsea’s medical staff, after which Maresca expressed hope that he would be in a position to return.
However, reports last week stated that the England attacker would be sidelined until November as the problem continues.
“I was wrong [about Palmer being back after the international break],” Maresca said in a new update on Friday, remaining insistent that Palmer does not require surgery.
“Unfortunately, he needs to be out probably six more weeks. Unfortunately, the medical staff are not magicians. We hope the six weeks are enough. But for sure, he's going to be OK. He looks relaxed. He looks good.”
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Chelsea captain Reece James has been passed fit for Saturday’s lunchtime Premier League return at struggling Nottingham Forest after withdrawing from the England squad as a precaution, while Andrey Santos, Tosin Adarabioyo and Wesley Fofana are also ready to play this weekend after injury and concussion problems respectively.
However, centre-back Benoit Badiashile has been ruled out until December with a muscular issue sustained in the last-gasp win over Liverpool, while Chelsea also have doubts over the key trio of Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo and Pedro Neto, all of whom missed training on Thursday.
“Unfortunately, Benoit will be out until December,” Maresca said. “A muscular problem. He was doing fantastically.
“We're going to wait for him. Moi, Enzo and Pedro, they didn't take part in the session yesterday. We'll see if they are going to train today. Otherwise, they will [be out for Nottingham Forest].”
Injury-hit Chelsea are also still without long-term absentees Liam Delap, Levi Colwill and Dario Essugo, while Mykhailo Mudryk remains unavailable for selection.
However, Trevoh Chalobah is back from suspension ahead of the trip to Forest, where Maresca will serve a one-match touchline ban after being sent off for his wild celebrations that followed Estevao Willian’s dramatic stoppage-time winner against Liverpool.