Cole Palmer’s participation in this weekend’s match against Arsenal remains uncertain, as Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed that the player has missed training sessions this week.
Palmer sustained an injury following a rough challenge from Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez during last weekend’s encounter, raising concerns about his ability to play on Sunday.
The tackle left visible marks on Palmer’s knee, resulting in him limping off the field at Old Trafford, and reports indicate that the affected area continued to cause him discomfort during Chelsea’s return to London.
Earlier this week, Palmer was scheduled for a scan, and Maresca has now stated that he has not taken part in training.
“Cole didn’t train yesterday,” Maresca said ahead of Chelsea’s midweek Europa Conference League fixture. “We will assess today if he can join us for practice.”
He added, “It would certainly be a risk to play him against Arsenal, considering he hasn’t trained for the last two days. We’ll have to wait and see. The tackle was quite severe. We hope he can recover soon.”
These comments align with reports suggesting that Chelsea is optimistic about Palmer’s condition, hoping the soreness will subside without significant damage. For now, expectations remain that Palmer could still start on Sunday, but the longer he stays away from training, the more likely it is that he may miss the match.
Palmer will not participate in Chelsea’s Europa Conference League game this midweek, as he has not been included in the squad for the tournament. With a crowded roster, some players had to be rested, and the Conference League was seen as an opportunity for Palmer to recuperate.
Additionally, Jadon Sancho is facing his own challenges, having missed training for several days due to illness. Maresca also mentioned that Sancho is doubtful for the Arsenal match.
“Jadon will also be absent tomorrow (against FC Noah) due to illness,” Maresca noted. “He is recovering but has also sustained a knock during training. We’ll see if he can make it for Sunday; otherwise, he’ll be back after the international break.”
Cole Palmer had an impressive debut season with Chelsea, netting 25 goals and providing 15 assists in 45 appearances. His performance this season has been equally remarkable, with seven goals and five assists in just ten Premier League matches.
