Enzo Maresca has been scrambling for options this season in an attempt to fill the void of Cole Palmer in his Chelsea attack.
Palmer has started just two Premier League games for the Blues this season, one of those being against Manchester United where his appearance lasted less than half an hour.
Clearly frustrated that he has been missing out, the England international is keen to return as soon as possible, especially with the magnitude of games to come for the Blues.
Who is Chelsea’s best ever player?
Palmer wants to return to face Barcelona in the Champions League, with that game a week away, and closely followed by the visit of Arsenal to Stamford Bridge.
Manchester United v Chelsea - Premier League
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
Original claims suggested that Palmer would be fit to face Barcelona, however the latest update suggests that game is set to come too soon.
Simon Phillips stated on his Substack that the latest forecast suggests the marquee tie is set to be missed by Palmer, and even the game against the league leaders could come too early.
He said: “Chelsea’s plan for Cole Palmer was to get him 30 minutes in the Burnley game in a view to starting him against Barcelona in the Champions League next week.
“However, SPTC Sources have informed us that those games are just ‘arriving too soon’ for Palmer – at least that is the latest forecast.
“Palmer is now NOT expected to be involved against Burnley, and even the Barcelona game might be too soon for him.
“He’s not yet returned to group training and realistically, it could the Arsenal or the Leeds game/s where we see him back in a squad for the first time.”
Cole Palmer and Gianfranco Zola pose at the PFA Awards 2024 - Backstage
Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
Palmer must learn from Reece James example
Despite a clear desire from all parties for their talisman to return, Palmer must stay patient in his quest to return to full fitness.
The club captain, Reece James is the best example of this working out. It has been around a year since his last significant injury woe.
Maresca deserves credit for how he has dealt with James’ fitness, and he must resist the temptation to throw Palmer in too soon and get him stuck in a similar cycle.