Chelsea player, Cole Palmer, is set to miss several crucial matches in the coming weeks due to a groin injury. The England international will be out for approximately "two to three weeks," according to Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca.
Chelsea manager, Enzo Maresca, said:
"We decided to protect Cole a little bit. In terms of not letting his injury get worse. We decided to rest him for two to three weeks until the international break to see if with that rest he can recover 100% and to be fit after the international break.
"I don't think he needs surgery but it is just to manage the pain in his groin. We have decided to be a little bit conservative with him."
Palmer was forced out of Chelsea's starting line-up during the warm-up ahead of their 5-1 win against West Ham in August. He subsequently missed their victory over Fulham and England's September World Cup qualifiers. Despite returning as a second-half substitute for the 2-2 draw with Brentford, where he scored and played a pivotal role in earning Chelsea a point after being a goal down, his injury has persisted.
The decision by Maresca is seen as precautionary action aimed at ensuring that Palmer’s participation later in the campaign is not compromised. This approach mirrors how Reece James' involvement was managed last season when he returned from an extended lay-off.
Impact on upcoming matches
Due to this setback, Palmer will miss upcoming Premier League matches at home against Brighton and Liverpool. Additionally, he won't be available for Wednesday's Champions League match against Benfica.
Further compounding matters for Chelsea are injuries affecting other key players. Tosin Adarabioyo is also set to be out until after the international break while Wesley Fofana will miss the Brighton match after suffering a concussion during Wednesday’s Carabao Cup win at Lincoln.
Defensive challenges ahead
These absences leave Coach Maresca short-handed in defence with Levi Colwill already sidelined for much of the season due an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Likely stand-ins include Josh Acheampong and summer signing Jorrel Hato.
Despite these challenges, Maresca expressed no concern about his goalkeeping situation following Robert Sanchez’s early red card dismissal during the match against Manchester United. Sanchez, who fouled Bryan Mbeumo after racing from his goal, is available to face his former club on Saturday having served a one-match suspension in midweek.
The coming weeks will undoubtedly test Chelsea's depth and resilience as they navigate through these injuries. However, with a strong squad and strategic management, they are well-equipped to weather this storm. Fans and sports betting enthusiasts alike will be keenly watching how the team adapts to these challenges in their upcoming matches.
