Chelsea have suffered a fresh injury setback as in-form midfielder Cole Palmer has been ruled out for the next two to three weeks with a groin problem.
Head coach Enzo Maresca confirmed the news on Thursday, revealing that the club has decided to rest the 22-year-old in hopes of a full recovery before the international break.
“We decided to protect Cole a little bit. We decide to rest him for the next 2-3 weeks until the international break, to see if with that rest he can recover to 100%,” Maresca said.
The announcement comes as a major blow for Chelsea, who have relied heavily on Palmer’s creativity and goals this season. Since arriving from Manchester City last summer, Palmer has quickly become one of the Blues’ most important players, contributing with goals, assists, and consistent match-winning performances.
With Palmer sidelined, Chelsea face a testing period as they prepare for crucial Premier League fixtures in the coming weeks. His absence could also affect the team’s attacking rhythm, as he has been a key figure in linking midfield and attack under Maresca’s system.