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Chelsea XI vs Tottenham: Palmer latest, team news and predicted lineup

A composite image shows Cole Palmer in front of a Chelsea FC club crest

Return: Chelsea will hope that Cole Palmer is fit to start against Tottenham

ES Composite

Chelsea Football Newsletter

Your matchday briefing on Chelsea, featuring team news and expert analysis from Malik Ouzia

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Chelsea are hoping to welcome something close to their first-choice attack back into action against Tottenham, with Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke and Nicolas Jackson all pushing to return.

Palmer missed the 1-0 defeat by Arsenal prior to the international break with what was described as a minor muscle injury and pulled out of England duty as a result.

It was the first game the playmaker had missed in the Premier League all season, but he returned to training last week. So, too, did Madueke and Jackson, who have each been sidelined with hamstring problems.

Madueke was forced off early in February’s 3-0 defeat away at Brighton, while Jackson has not played since picking up his injury in the home win over West Ham on transfer deadline day two months ago.

Enzo Maresca is due to provide an update on the trio’s fitness at his pre-match press conference on Wednesday morning, but given his side’s creative struggles may be tempted to throw at least Palmer and possibly Jackson into his lineup from the start.

Pedro Neto has been deputising as a No9 but could return to the wing.

Meanwhile, the timing of the FA Cup quarter-finals has eased Chelsea’s usual post-international break headache, with first-choice midfield pair Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez having had sufficient time to recover from their trips to South America.

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