Chelsea continue to be without the services of Cole Palmer.placeholder image
Chelsea continue to be without the services of Cole Palmer. | Getty Images
Enzo Maresca is hoping to have the playmaker available again for Chelsea soon after the international break.
Chelsea are hoping to have star man Cole Palmer available for selection again shortly after the international break ahead of tricky fixtures against FC Barcelona in the Champions League and Arsenal in the Premier League.
Enzo Maresca’s side make the trip to Burnley in their first action following the break before then welcoming the Catalan giants and league leaders to Stamford Bridge. The Blues have been without the services of Palmer since the defeat to Manchester United on September 20.
The England international has been plagued with a groin issue that has troubled him since the Club World Cup. He has only started two Premier League matches this season.
Chelsea hope to have midfielder back for Barcelona and Arsenal fixtures
Chelsea are understandably cautious with rushing the player back but The Standard this week reports that Palmer could be close to a return. It’s claimed that Chelsea hope to have the midfielder fit to face Barcelona on November 25 and for the visit of Arsenal on November 30.
It’s added that a cameo outing against Burnley at Turf Moor next Saturday could also be on the cards, but the club won’t push for that ahead of those two huge fixtures. Maresca is expected to provide a more clear update on the timeframe come his press conference on November 21.
Chelsea fans shouldn’t be getting their hopes up too soon. The Burnley fixture is just over a week away and in a series of pictures shared from training during the international break, Palmer was nowhere to be seen among the first team players.
Cole Palmer injury update
If the player is to return later this month, he will need to be in full training with the team soon. Tosin Adarabioyo, Facundo Buonanotte, Liam Delap and Wes Fofana were all pictured in the snaps shared by the club.
Speaking ahead of facing Qarabag in the Champions League earlier this month, Maresca said: "With Cole we try to plan, we try to schedule, you know, at the beginning, and then we need to review that. So in this moment, we go day by day with Cole. He's [still] not taking any session with the team.
"To be honest, I would like to have Cole here tomorrow. I would like to have Cole early. I said many times that we are a better team with Cole. Unfortunately for us, he's out, he's injured, but for sure we want him back very soon."
In other news, Chelsea 'enquire' about 23 G/A attacking midfielder but European giants 'hold the keys'.
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