Chelsea star player, Cole Palmer, is set to be out of action for another six weeks due to a persistent groin problem. This was confirmed by Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca in a press briefing on Friday. According to Maresca, Palmer will not make his return to the field before the next international break scheduled in November. The announcement came ahead of Chelsea’s Premier League match against Nottingham Forest at 7:30am ET on Saturday.
Maresca expressed confidence in Palmer's recovery process and assured fans that surgery would not be necessary. However, he also emphasized that the medical team cannot perform miracles and that recovery from such injuries requires time.
Chelsea manager, Enzo Maresca, said:
‘We try to protect Cole as much as we can and the most important thing is that when he comes back, he is fully fit. We hope the six weeks will be enough, but it’s a problem that we need to look at step by step, week by week, but for sure he is going to be okay.’
“You need six weeks and we hope six weeks will be enough. A problem we need to see step by step, week by week,”
Look at Cole Palmer's injury history
Despite being one of the most fouled players in the Premier League, Palmer has shown remarkable resilience throughout his three-year tenure with Chelsea. In his debut season at Stamford Bridge, he only sat out single games due to a yellow card suspension and an illness. His record continued into the following Premier League season where he missed just one more match - a 1-0 loss at Arsenal - due to a hamstring issue.
This current groin injury occurred after playing for 90 minutes against Palace in Week 1 which resulted in him missing victories over West Ham and Fulham. Despite this setback, he managed to play for 34 minutes and score an essential goal during Week 4’s draw against Brentford before aggravating his injury early into Week 5. Consequently, he missed matches against Brighton and Liverpool as well as a Champions League win versus Benfica. Before joining Chelsea, while still with Manchester City during the 2021-22 season, Palmer was sidelined for about three months due to a foot injury.
While Chelsea fans will undoubtedly miss Palmer's presence on the field, they can take solace in Maresca's confidence in his recovery. The team will have to adjust their strategies and rely on other key players during this period. However, with a strong squad and effective management, Chelsea is expected to continue its competitive performance in the Premier League and Champions League.
The next few weeks will be crucial for both Palmer and Chelsea as they navigate this challenging phase. Fans worldwide are eagerly awaiting updates on Palmer's recovery process and his much-anticipated return to the field.
