Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed that Cole Palmer will be out of action for at least another six weeks, extending the England midfielder’s spell on the sidelines.
Palmer, 23, has not featured since Chelsea’s 2-1 loss to Manchester United on September 20, when he was forced off midway through the first half. At the time, Maresca had expressed hope that the midfielder would return after the October international break.
However, speaking at a press conference on Friday, the Italian admitted that his initial optimism was misplaced.
“I was wrong. Unfortunately, he probably needs six more weeks. So yes, that’s the update,” Maresca said.
Despite the extended layoff, Maresca confirmed that Palmer will not require surgery.
“We’re trying to protect Cole as much as we can. The most important thing is that when he returns, he’s fully recovered,” he added.
Palmer’s absence is a significant blow for Chelsea ahead of their Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest on Saturday. Maresca acknowledged the challenge of replacing one of his key performers.
“He’s one of the best players in the Premier League. It’s very difficult to replace him,” Maresca said. “We’ll have to find a different solution, a different skill set, because we don’t have another player like Cole. He’s unique.”
AFP
