Chelsea’s forward Cole Palmer will be sidelined for “six more weeks” due to a groin injury, according to manager Enzo Maresca, who made the announcement on Friday.
Initially, Maresca had indicated that Palmer might return following this month’s international break, especially since he did not require surgery.
“I was mistaken; unfortunately, he needs another six weeks off,” Maresca stated. “This is the latest update.”
“We’re doing our best to protect Cole. The priority is to ensure he is fully fit when he returns.”
“The medical team isn’t miraculous; recovery timelines can be uncertain. He probably needs that six weeks, but we’ll assess his progress step by step each week.”
“He seems relaxed and is following all the necessary therapy. He’s in a good place.”
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Palmer had to leave the pitch just 21 minutes into Chelsea’s match against Manchester United last month, and he has not played since, exacerbating an injury-plagued campaign in which he has only made two starts across all competitions.
In other news, Moisés Caicedo, Pedro Neto, and Enzo Fernández are also injury concerns ahead of their match against Nottingham Forest this weekend as the Premier League returns. However, Tosin Adarabioyo, Wesley Fofana, and Andrey Santos are expected to return.
“Replacing Cole is challenging because he’s a crucial player for us, likely one of the best in the Premier League,” Maresca remarked. “Finding a substitute for such a unique talent is never easy.”
“The game plan will dictate our approach. For example, against Liverpool, we used Malo Gusto in that position, while Facundo [Buonanotte] filled it against Benfica. We must explore various strategies.”
“We lack another player who compares to Cole. His qualities are irreplaceable.”
A potential alternative could be Brazilian teenager Estêvão, who has seen limited playing time as he acclimatizes to English football but whose decisive goal in stoppage time against the champions may uplift the mood at Stamford Bridge after a sluggish season start.
Additional information from PA contributed to this report.