Chelsea will have to wait quite a bit longer before Cole Palmer returns from his groin injury.
There is no doubt that Cole Palmer, 23, is the outstanding individual in the Chelsea squad. Therefore, it is a real blow that the attacking midfielder won’t be back on the pitch for a while.
Blues head coach Enzo Maresca confirmed on Friday that Palmer could miss the next six weeks with his ongoing injury problem.
Cole Palmer during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Crystal Palace.
Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images
Winners
Of course, Palmer’s injury is a significant blow to such a key player. There may be teammates in the squad that benefit, though, as others will need to step up.
Enzo Fernandez: With Palmer unavailable, Blues midfielder Enzo Fernandez becomes one of the most likely to cover for him in the number 10 position.
The 24-year-old central midfielder has delivered a mixed bag of performances so far. However, he continues to be an attacking threat, particularly when he makes his late runs into the penalty box
Appearances Goals Assists
10 3 1
Enzo Fernandez for Chelsea across all competitions in the 2025-26 season
Micah Richards rates Fernandez because of his attacking threat, something we could see more of with Palmer absent.
Facundo Buonanotte: Perhaps the door has been left ajar for Facundo Buonanotte, 20, to get more minutes during the next six weeks.
The on-loan Chelsea playmaker certainly didn’t excite the fans when he joined from Brighton in the summer, but he may be the most natural like-for-like replacement for Palmer in the number 10 spot.
We’ve been impressed in the few glimpses from the left-footed attacking midfielder. He should suddenly be in line for more opportunities because of less competition.
Estevao Willian: We’re convinced that Estevao Willian would much prefer to be linking up with Palmer for Chelsea. However, the latter’s temporary absence could work in his favour as he looks to establish himself as a major figure in the squad.
First of all, Estevao is definitely a legitimate alternative to play centrally as a number 10, even if he does a lot of his work from the right wing.
Also, the Brazilian wonderkid may feel he’s ready to pick up the mantle as the leading figure while his teammate is unavailable.
Estevao Willian during Chelsea against Benfica in the Champions League.
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Losers
Obviously, aside from Palmer himself, there are plenty of other people associated with Chelsea who will feel his absence.
Joao Pedro: The injury news could actually be a blow to Blues attacker Joao Pedro.
At the Club World Cup, Pedro and Palmer were already linking up as a devastating combination in the final third, largely because they are both intelligent footballers.
Without Palmer in the side, the supply line to Pedro when he starts as a centre-forward becomes more limited. The 24-year-old frontman may need to show pieces of individual brilliance to keep up the high standards he’s set since joining from Brighton in the summer.
Enzo Maresca: It feels very harsh on Chelsea boss Maresca that he’s now lost another key player for an extended period.
We’re sure that he will get creative with his line-ups. As mentioned above, he’s got different options he can deploy to try and somehow fill the void.
On the same day, Blues centre-back Benoit Badiashile was ruled out until December because of a muscle injury, so the Italian coach needs to prevent the season from falling apart.
The Chelsea fanbase: Finally, the Chelsea supporters are big losers from Palmer’s injury because they don’t get to watch their most special talent perform his magic on the football pitch.
Even if the Blues don’t win every game, Palmer usually does something imaginative to leave fans in awe.
It is most likely going to be harder to put together positive results without their talisman in attack. On top of that, the fan favourite will not be able to entertain.