Cole Palmer is only fit enough for the bench as Chelsea visit Napoli in the Champions League.
Palmer missed last week’s 1-0 win over Pafos and Sunday’s 3-1 victory against Crystal Palace due to a small thigh strain but featured in all of the club’s last four training sessions at Cobham and travelled for the Blues’ final league phase fixture.
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Liam Rosenior confirmed that Palmer was in the squad for a game that Chelsea need to win and hope other results go their way if they are to finish in the top eight and secure automatic progress into the round of 16.
Second-choice goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen went off injured against Pafos but has recovered sooner than expected following a scan and also makes a return to the squad.
Fellow goalkeepers Freddy Bernal and Max Merrick have also made the travelling squad but Robert Sanchez starts between the sticks in Naples.
Chelsea will again be without Tosin Adarabioyo, who came off injured against Brentford, and there is also no Dario Essugo, who is out for three weeks after an unfortunate slip in training.
Longer-term absentees Levi Colwill and Romeo Lavia are also not involved, though Lavia is doing some level of training as he works his way back up to full fitness.
Chelsea have gone strong against Napoli, as they will avoid two extra games in a play-off round if they manage to finish in the top eight in the Champions League. Ahead of the final round of games, they sit eighth.
Rosenior names Joao Pedro up front and Sunday’s match-winner Estevao also starts, with Pedro Neto keeping his place instead of Alejandro Garnacho on the left.
Chelsea XI (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, James, Cucurella; Caicedo, Santos; Estevao, Enzo, Neto; Joao Pedro
Subs: Jorgensen, Merrick, Acheampong, Badiashile, Chalobah, Hato, Palmer, Gittens, Garnacho, Delap, George, Guiu
Injured: Lavia, Colwill, Tosin, Essugo
Time and date: 8pm GMT on Wednesday January 28, 2026
Venue: Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Naples
How to watch: TNT Sports
