Cole Palmer’s Injury Update
Cole Palmer, the 23-year-old Chelsea midfielder, has sustained a fractured toe due to an accident at his home, sidelining him for a significant portion of the team’s upcoming schedule. Initially recovering from a groin injury, Palmer was poised for a return just before crucial matches, including a Premier League clash against Burnley, a Champions League showdown with Barcelona, and a subsequent encounter with Arsenal.
Coach’s Comments
Chelsea’s head coach, Enzo Maresca, spoke about the incident in a press conference, indicating that Palmer would definitely miss these three matches.
“He is not available for tomorrow, for sure, and the same goes for the Barcelona and Arsenal fixtures. He had an unfortunate accident at home two days ago where he injured his toe. It’s not a major issue, but he won’t be back yet. It is fractured, yes,”
Maresca clarified.
Maresca empathized with Palmer’s predicament, adding that such accidents can happen unexpectedly, highlighting that even minor mishaps can derail players. The coach expressed his disappointment, noting how close Palmer was to being fit again.
“We were hopeful as he had started to train with us again after his groin issue, which was positive news. But now, we must navigate this setback and hope he recovers quickly.”
Chelsea’s Recent Performance
Chelsea has experienced a strong run in recent weeks, winning four out of five matches and rising to third place in the Premier League since Palmer’s last appearance during a loss to Manchester United in September. Despite speculation that the team might perform better without him, Maresca countered those notions.
“The teammates are better with Cole on the pitch. I feel more confident when he is available, and we all want him back,”
he stated.
Other Player Updates
In addition to Palmer, Maresca confirmed that other players, including Benoît Badiashile (dealing with a muscular problem), Enzo Fernández (knee injury), and Pedro Neto (groin issue) will be ready to compete against Burnley. Chelsea is set for an important week, seeking to maintain their momentum and improve their standing without one of their key players.
