Chelsea have placed an estimated six-week timeframe on Cole Palmer’s return, with Enzo Maresca conceding his star playmaker is in line to miss several significant matches for the Blues.
It is hoped that Palmer could yet return for the end of November, which is when they will face Barcelona in the Champions League on the 25th and Arsenal in the Premier League on the 30th.
Palmer is struggling with a strained groin issue which the club are giving time to heal. The 23-year-old has been in Dubai over the international break rather than in London.
It is understood the six weeks mentioned by Maresca refers to when Palmer might return to playing rather than simply training. Previewing Chelsea’s trip to Nottingham Forest, the Blues boss said on Palmer: ‘I was wrong. Unfortunately he needs to be out probably six more weeks.’
Maresca added that he still does not require surgery, continuing: ‘Absolutely. We are trying to protect Cole as much as we can and the most important thing is that. Unfortunately the medical staff, they are not magicians, they never know that you probably need six weeks.
‘We hope that six weeks, they are enough, but it’s a problem that we need to see step by step, week after week, but for sure he’s going to be okay.
‘He looks very good, to be honest, he looks relaxed. He’s trying to recover from the injury, he’s doing all the therapy that he needs to do, so he looks good.’
On who can replace Palmer, Maresca added: ‘To replace Cole is difficult, because Cole is a very important player for us, probably one of the best players in the Premier League.
‘It depends on the game plan. In Cole’s position against Liverpool, it was Malo Gusto. The previous game against Benfica, it was Facundo (Buonanotte).
‘It depends on the game plan we have. For sure we need to find a different solution, we need to find different skills, because we don’t have another player like Cole, because Cole is unique.’
The injury means Palmer is likely to miss yet another international break. England take on Serbia and Albania in November, having already secured qualification for next year’s World Cup, and Palmer has featured in just one of the eight games under Thomas Tuchel so far. He played 64 minutes in June’s 1-0 win over Andorra.
Chelsea have other injury issues also, with Benoit Badiashile set to be sidelined until December after picking up a muscular problem. Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez and Pedro Neto all did not train on Thursday, meanwhile, with late calls to be made on whether they will travel to Nottingham.
In better news, club captain Reece James is fully fit after skipping the international break with England and able to face Forest.
