**Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has confirmed that Cole Palmer is back “on the pitch,” taking part in training sessions.**
It was revealed before the [**Burnley game**](https://chelseanews.com/blog/chelsea-player-ratings-burnley/) that the 23-year-old had broken his toe in an accident at home but, speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of the fixture against Barcelona, Maresca said he should be available for selection again in the near future:
“Yeah, we don’t know when but for sure, it will be soon. He is already on the pitch, touching the ball and the feeling is good.”
When asked to clarify whether he’d be fit to face Barca, Maresca made it clear that the London derby on Sunday was a more likely date for his return to action:
“We are here for tomorrow’s game and after that we will see about the Arsenal game.”
The England international has been sidelined with a groin injury since the defeat to Manchester United in September.
Palmer’s recovery had been slower than expected, and his broken toe has set back his return by another couple of weeks. However, it appears as if there is now some light at the end of the tunnel.
Other Chelsea injury news
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Romeo Lavia is expected to return to training at some point in December. The midfielder picked up yet another muscular injury during the draw against Qarabag earlier this month.
Dario Essugo (thigh) is still in rehab following surgery. The midfielder is pencilled in to make his comeback in January. Levi Colwill, meanwhile, has a long way to go before he is ready to play again.
The centre-back ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament just before the beginning of the campaign, and it is touch-and-go whether he will play any football this season.
[**Read more about the Chelsea First Team Squad for 2025/26 here**](https://chelseanews.com/blog/chelsea-first-team-squad/)