Maresca Confirms Palmer Out Until After International Break Amid Groin Injury Concerns
Chelsea’s midfield maestro, Cole Palmer, will be sidelined until after the upcoming October international break as the club takes a cautious approach to his recurring groin injury. Manager Enzo Maresca confirmed the setback, emphasizing the priority of ensuring Palmer avoids surgery and achieves a full recovery.
A Disruptive Start to the Season
Palmer’s season has been plagued by this persistent groin issue. After pulling out of the warm-up before Chelsea’s August victory over West Ham United, he subsequently missed the triumph against Fulham. He made a promising return, coming off the bench to score in the thrilling 2-2 draw with Brentford.
The England international then played a full 90 minutes, scoring again, in the clash against Bayern Munich. However, his return was short-lived, as he managed only 20 minutes in the chaotic defeat to Manchester United before limping off with a flare-up of the original injury.
Maresca’s Conservative Approach
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s crucial meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion, Maresca expressed confidence that Palmer would not require surgery. Instead, the club has opted for a conservative management plan, resting the 23-year-old for several weeks to facilitate natural healing.
“We decided to protect Cole a little bit in terms of him not getting a worse injury,” Maresca explained. “So we decided to rest him for the next two, three weeks, probably until international break, just to see if with that rest he can be able to recover 100% and to be completely fit after the international break.”
The Chelsea boss added, “I don’t think he needs surgery. It’s just a matter of managing his pain and his groin. The amount of games is something that can happen. So this is the reason why we try to be conservative with him to give him rest and hopefully he can be 100% fit after the international break.”
Key Matches Palmer Will Miss
This enforced break means Palmer will miss several significant fixtures for Chelsea, starting with the upcoming Premier League clash against Brighton.
- Brighton & Hove Albion (H) – Premier League, September 27
- Benfica (H) – Champions League, September 30
- Liverpool (H) – Premier League, October 4
Perhaps most concerning for Chelsea fans is Palmer’s unavailability for the highly anticipated Premier League encounter against reigning champions Liverpool just before the international break. His absence will undoubtedly be felt as the Blues navigate a challenging period.
Impact on England Squad and Future Outlook
Palmer’s injury will also rule him out of Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the upcoming international fixtures. This provides Chelsea with an additional 14 days to work on his rehabilitation, aiming for his full fitness ahead of a trip to face Nottingham Forest post-break.
Despite the blow, Maresca remains optimistic about the team’s ability to adapt. “We said that with Cole we are a better team, but we also said that we need to play games without Cole, so we are not going to play with 10 players for sure,” Maresca affirmed. “We are going to find a different solution.”
Chelsea will now need other players to step up and fill the void left by their influential midfielder as they aim to maintain momentum in both domestic and European competitions.
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