Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer has a muscle injury which has ruled him out of the England squad for the March international break.
Palmer had to pull out of Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad meaning that Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White got the call-up instead.
The midfielder didn’t play for Chelsea during their 1-0 defeat to Arsenal at the weekend due to the same issue, and it is now not clear how bad it could be.
Chelsea head into the break fourth in the Premier League, one point above Manchester City in fifth. They are hoping to finish in the top four at least in order to secure Champions League qualification.
However, Palmer could be out for some time with a muscle issue. Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said at the weekend: “It’s a muscular problem. He needs a scan, and it is planned for tomorrow morning. I hope he can be back for our next game, but we need to wait for a scan.
“We don’t wish players injury, but probably in Cole’s case, it will give him some rest, physically and mentally. It could be good.”
Expected return date – Thursday 3 April vs Tottenham Hotspur (H)