Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca provides an update on the knee injury sustained by Cole Palmer ahead of Sunday’s Premier League showdown with Arsenal.
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has suggested that he remains in the dark over whether Cole Palmer will be fit to face Arsenal on Sunday.
During the closing minutes of Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Manchester United, Palmer was on the receiving end of a knee-high challenge from Lisandro Martinez.
While the England international was able to complete the final seconds at Old Trafford, he was later required to apply ice to the area.
Post-match, Maresca heavily criticised the decision not to show Martinez a red card for a tackle that he felt was ‘not going for the ball’.
However, the bigger concern for Chelsea is the future availability of Palmer with the club’s medical staff allegedly having sent him for a scan on the injury in the following days.
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What has Maresca had to say?
Having been left out of Chelsea’s squad for the Conference League until after Christmas, Palmer is not available to face FC Noah at Stamford Bridge on Thursday.
As a result, his next potential appearance is against Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday, the final fixture before the November international break.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday afternoon, Maresca revealed that Palmer has been unable to work with the rest of the group at their Cobham training facilities since the game in the North-West.
Maresca told reporters: “Cole did not train yesterday so we will see today if he is able to train with us.”
He added: “We hope so (that he will be ready). We have to wait, we need to see, and then decide”.
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Who may replace Palmer?
For the first time in a Premier League fixture this season, Maresca is forced to contemplate who may deputise for his star player.
Against Manchester City in the first game of the season, Enzo Fernandez played as the furthest forward in a midfield three, and that cannot be ruled out against a team of Arsenal’s quality.
However, Joao Felix has been deployed in the number 10 role in cup competitions and would presumably get the nod if Palmer is not fit enough to start or take a place among the replacements.
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