Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca says Cole Palmer is recovering well and will return “soon” but remains sidelined for games against Barcelona and Arsenal.
According to a report from Hayters, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has offered an encouraging update on the fitness of attacker Cole Palmer, stating he expects the player to return to action “soon,” although he remains sidelined for the immediate fixtures.
Palmer, who has been out since September with a groin injury, suffered a further setback after sustaining a fractured toe during an accident at home, delaying his much-anticipated comeback.
Addressing the media ahead of the match against Barcelona on Tuesday, Maresca was asked about Palmer’s imminent return. He responded positively: “Yeah, we don’t know when, but for sure it will be soon.”
He confirmed that the forward is already making progress, noting: “He’s already on the pitch. He’s already touching the ball and the feeling is good.”
However, the Italian coach dampened hopes of a return this week, confirming Palmer would miss both the Barcelona clash and the subsequent fixture against Arsenal on Sunday.
When asked specifically if the player will be back this week, Maresca stated: “I don’t think so at the moment.”
Maresca did confirm the positive nature of his last conversation with the player: “The last time I spoke with Cole was after the session to ask how was he feeling and it was a good feeling.”
While the club remains cautious about setting an exact date, the fact that Palmer is already on the pitch and “touching the ball” indicates his recovery from the toe fracture, in addition to the original groin injury, is progressing well.