Chelsea will remain without Cole Palmer for key upcoming matches against Barcelona and Arsenal after a freak new injury suffered at home.
Palmer has already been sidelined for two months as the result of a lingering groin injury sustained in the summer that heavily disrupted his start to the season, last playing when he was substituted early during the 2-1 loss at Manchester United on September 20.
It was hoped that he could be in a position to return quickly after the November international break, when Chelsea host Barcelona in the Champions League and face a visit from Premier League leaders Arsenal following Saturday’s lunchtime trip to promoted Burnley.
However, Enzo Maresca has now revealed that Palmer will play no part in any of those games having fractured the little toe on his left foot after stubbing it on a door at home on Wednesday.
“He is probably not available for tomorrow, for sure,” the Chelsea boss told reporters on Friday. “Barcelona for sure. Arsenal for sure. Unfortunately, he had an accident at home two days ago.
“He hit his toe. But it’s nothing important. But for sure he’s not back in the next week.
“It’s fractured. The only thing we know is he’s not available for this week and next week.”
Maresca said that Palmer had been very close to returning from his troublesome groin problem before the new toe issue, having made only four appearances across all competitions so far this season and missed Chelsea’s last 11 matches.
The 23-year-old’s persistent injury woes mean he has still featured just once for England under Thomas Tuchel - in the 1-0 win over Andorra in June - and is in a race against time to prove himself worthy of a place on the plane for next summer’s World Cup in North America, with only one camp remaining in March before the squad for that tournament is named.
“He was very close, with the groin,” Maresca added. “He was back with us almost. Then he had this small problem. The last time I saw him was yesterday. Was he limping? No, not too much.
“For me personally, Cole is one of our best players. No doubt that he can play in any international team. It’s Thomas’ decision.”
