Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer will be rested for up to three weeks as the club takes a cautious approach to managing a recurring groin problem, manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed.
The 22-year-old was forced off in the first half of last weekend’s defeat to Manchester United after the injury, which first surfaced during Chelsea’s shortened pre-season following their Club World Cup triumph in July, flared up again.
With crucial fixtures looming — including Brighton and Liverpool in the Premier League and Benfica in the Champions League — Chelsea have opted to prioritise Palmer’s long-term fitness.
“Yes, we decided to protect Cole and not risk making his injury worse,” Maresca explained. “We’ve chosen to rest him for two to three weeks until the international break, and we hope that with this time off, he can recover fully and be ready afterwards. He doesn’t need surgery — it’s about managing the pain and being conservative.”
Palmer has started just three of Chelsea’s seven matches this season and also missed England’s World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia earlier this month. Gareth Southgate’s side face Wales in a friendly on 9 October before travelling to Latvia for another qualifier five days later, but Palmer’s involvement remains uncertain.
Maresca’s injury concerns extend beyond Palmer. Tosin Adarabioyo is also sidelined until after the international break with a calf issue, while defender Wesley Fofana will miss Saturday’s clash with Brighton due to concussion.
Palmer’s absence is a setback for Chelsea, who view him as a key creative presence in midfield. By taking a careful approach now, the club hopes to ensure he returns at full strength for a demanding run of fixtures in the second half of the season.
