Cole Palmer’s return from injury has been delayed again, with Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca confirming on Friday that the young England international will need an additional six weeks on the sidelines.
Palmer has not featured since being substituted early in the 2-1 defeat at Manchester United on September 20. At the time, Maresca indicated Palmer might return after the October international break.
“I was wrong,” the coach admitted. “Unfortunately, he needs to be out probably six more weeks. So, yes, this is the update.”
Despite the setback, Maresca stressed that Palmer does not require surgery. He said the plan is to protect him and ensure he returns only when fully fit.
He added: “We try just to protect Cole as much as we can and the most important thing is that when he comes back he’s fully recovered.”
Losing the English international again is a heavy blow for the Blues. Maresca acknowledged the difficulty of replacing a player he described as “unique” and one of the “best players in the Premier League.”
“For sure, we need to find a different solution, we need to find different skills, because we don’t have another player like Cole,” he said.
Meanwhile, there was a glimmer of good news in the squad. Tosin Adarabioyo, Wesley Fofana, and Andrey Santos have returned to training and are available for the club’s trip to Nottingham Forest.
The London side now face a tough stretch without one of their most explosive attacking options. The medical team and coaches will have to manage the coming weeks carefully, balancing recovery with the demands of a congested schedule.
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