Chelsea’s coach, Enzo Maresca, has confirmed that midfielder Cole Palmer will be sidelined for an additional six weeks due to a persistent groin issue. The player has been out of action since September 20 after aggravating an injury that initially emerged during the club’s pre-season preparations following their Club World Cup victory.
This setback marks a frustrating start to the season for Palmer, who has managed only three Premier League appearances so far. The timing also puts pressure on his aspirations to impress England manager Thomas Tuchel ahead of next summer’s World Cup.
“I was wrong,” Maresca told reporters on Friday, referring to an earlier optimistic update. “Unfortunately, he needs to be out probably six more weeks. So, yes, this is the update.”
However, the Chelsea boss dismissed any concerns about the need for surgery, emphasizing that the focus remains on ensuring a full recovery. “We try to protect Cole as much as we can. The most important thing is when he comes back, he is fully fit,” Maresca stated. “The medical staff are not magicians. We hope six weeks are enough. We need to see it step-by-step. For sure, he’s going to be OK. He looks relaxed. He has tried to recover from the injury and is doing all the therapy.”
Impact on Chelsea and Upcoming Fixtures
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash away at Nottingham Forest, Maresca admitted Palmer’s absence would be challenging to cover. “To replace Cole is difficult because Cole is a very important player for us, probably one of the best players in the Premier League, so to replace that kind of player is always difficult,” he said. “We don’t have another player like Cole because Cole is unique.”
The 23-year-old is expected to miss league games against Sunderland, Tottenham Hotspur, Burnley, and Arsenal, as well as the League Cup tie at Wolves. He will also be unavailable for Champions League fixtures against Ajax, Qarabag, and Barcelona, in addition to England’s World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Albania.
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