Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has revealed that Cole Palmer’s recovery period has been extended by another six weeks as the forward continues to deal with a troublesome groin problem.
The 23-year-old last featured competitively on 20 September, when he was forced to leave the pitch after the issue resurfaced. The injury was initially picked up during Chelsea’s shortened pre-season, which followed their Club World Cup triumph.
Palmer has only managed three league outings this term, limiting his chances to catch the eye of England coach Thomas Tuchel ahead of next summer’s World Cup. Chelsea initially hoped that a short rest before the international break would allow him to return in November, but that timeline has now been pushed back.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Maresca admitted his earlier assessment had been too optimistic. “I was wrong. Unfortunately, he needs to be out probably six more weeks. So, yes, this is the update,” he said.
No surgery planned as recovery continues
Maresca explained that surgery is not currently being considered for Palmer’s injury. He underlined the club’s focus on ensuring a complete recovery before the forward returns to action.
“We try to protect Cole as much as we can. The most important thing is when he comes back, he is fully fit,” he said. “The medical staff are not magicians. We hope six weeks are enough. We need to see it step-by-step. For sure, he’s going to be OK.”
According to Maresca, Palmer has remained calm throughout the process and continues to undergo intensive therapy to regain fitness.
Key fixtures to be missed
Palmer’s revised schedule means he will be unavailable for league matches against Sunderland, Tottenham Hotspur, Burnley, and Arsenal. He will also miss a League Cup clash away to Wolves.
In addition, he is set to sit out Champions League group stage games against Ajax, Qarabag, and Barcelona. England’s upcoming qualifiers with Serbia and Albania will also come too soon for him.
Maresca acknowledged the difficulty of filling the gap left by Palmer. “To replace Cole is difficult, because Cole is a very important player for us — probably one of the best players in the Premier League — so to replace that kind of player is always difficult. We don’t have another player like Cole, because Cole is unique,” he noted.
Injury a significant setback for Chelsea
Palmer’s absence represents a major setback for the London side. The forward was directly involved in 39 league goals in 2024, netting 26 and providing 13 assists — the most by any Chelsea player in a single calendar year.
He was also instrumental in last season’s European and global finals, contributing two goals and three assists across the Conference League and Club World Cup showpieces.
The injury has been a recurring concern since August. Palmer withdrew during the warm-up before facing West Ham, then missed England duty in September, and finally limped off after 21 minutes in the defeat to Manchester United.
That match prompted the club to adopt a more cautious approach, prioritizing long-term fitness over short-term returns. While the current plan avoids surgery, questions remain over whether this extended recovery will fully resolve the issue.
