Chelsea forward Cole Palmer is set to remain on the sidelines until November as the club manages his ongoing groin injury, following a detailed internal meeting aimed at determining the best course for his recovery.
The 23-year-old attacker has been struggling with recurring groin problems since Chelsea’s shortened pre-season, which lasted just two weeks after their triumphant Club World Cup campaign in July. The tight turnaround appears to have taken a toll on Palmer’s fitness, forcing him to miss key fixtures early in the new season.
So far, the England international has made only four appearances in all competitions. His last outing came on 20 September, when he was forced off the field just 21 minutes into Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Following that match, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca made it clear that the club intends to take a cautious approach with Palmer’s recovery. “We want to protect him,” Maresca said, stressing that the forward would be given a rest period over the international break to ensure a full and sustainable recovery.
Palmer’s enforced absence means he is likely to miss several key fixtures in the coming weeks, including Chelsea’s Premier League clashes against Nottingham Forest and Wolves, as well as their European meeting with Ajax and a domestic cup tie against Sunderland.
His omission from England’s latest squad further highlights the severity of the issue. National team head coach Thomas Tuchel confirmed that Palmer was left out of the squad for Thursday’s friendly against Wales and Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier in Latvia due to medical advice. Tuchel admitted the situation has raised concerns within the England camp. “Cole’s injury is concerning,” he said. “We have to be careful, because it could become chronic if not managed properly.”
The extended layoff is an unwelcome setback for both club and country, especially given Palmer’s importance to Chelsea’s attacking setup. After an impressive breakout last season and a pivotal role in the Club World Cup triumph, his absence leaves a creative void that Maresca will have to address in the short term.
While Chelsea remains hopeful of his return in November, the focus now is on ensuring Palmer’s long-term fitness and preventing a recurrence of the injury that has hampered his promising start to the season.
