Cole Palmer is back in Chelsea training and will soon return to the pitch after recovering from a groin injury over recent weeks, Enzo Maresca has now confirmed.
Enzo Maresca has confirmed that Cole Palmer will return for Chelsea soon.
Palmer is back in training, with Maresca acknowledging that their feeling is positive. The Blues head coach detailed that the player is already out on the pitch and working with a football again.
However, the Blues head coach has claimed that they do not know when the comeback will be. Chelsea welcome Barcelona to Stamford Bridge in the Champions League on Tuesday before hosting Premier League leaders Arsenal five days later.
During a press conference on Monday, Maresca said: “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.”
The Blues boss also addressed whether or not Palmer would return for the weekend’s impending London derby. He said: “We are here for tomorrow’s game and, after that, we will see about the Arsenal game.”
Maresca added: “The last time I spoke with Cole was after the session yesterday to see how he was feeling. But I didn’t ask him for details about the injury at all.”
The coach also conceded that this week is a big one for his squad. He said: “It’s a big week, as you said, but at the end of this week, we have Leeds away, Bournemouth away, Atalanta away – so it’s another big week.
“Every game is three points. Barcelona tomorrow and Arsenal Sunday are important, for different reasons, but it’s important for us to go game by game.”
Speaking before the Burnley match, Maresca ruled Palmer out of playing against Arsenal or Barcelona – as well as the match last weekend. He said: “Cole won’t be available for tomorrow, no.
“For sure, he won’t feature in this game. And for sure not for Barcelona or Arsenal.
“Unfortunately, he had an accident at home two days ago, where he hit his toe. It is fractured.
“It’s disappointing, but these things can happen. It’s nothing too serious, but it’s causing him some pain in his little toe and, for sure, hes not going to be available for this week or next.
“He was very close to being back with us from his groin issue, which is very good, but then he’s had this problem with his toe, which has set him back. It’s nothing major, but he needs a bit more time to recover.”
Palmer has missed Chelsea’s last 12 matches across all competitions. His last outing against Manchester United at Old Trafford lasted barely 20 minutes.
A groin issue also kept Palmer out of the final two matches before September’s international break. He played in the next three matches – scoring his first two goals of the season during that run – before succumbing to his groin injury.
