Chelsea have been hit with a fresh Cole Palmer setback after it was confirmed an “accident at home” will see the Blues’ talisman ruled out for at least the next three games.
Palmer has only just recovered from a troublesome groin injury that has limited him to all but 235 minutes across the Premier League and Champions League so far this season.
Chelsea face Burnley in the Premier League this weekend, followed by a Champions League meeting with Barcelona, and a London derby against Arsenal only a few days after that. Enzo Maresca has warned that Palmer won’t feature in any of them.
“He is probably not available for tomorrow [against Burnley] for sure, Barcelona for sure or Arsenal for sure,” Maresca told reporters. “Unfortunately, he had an accident at home where he hit his toe. It is nothing important, but he won’t be back in the next week.
“He was very close [to returning]. He was back with us almost with the groin, which is very good news, but he has this small problem. [His toe] is fractured.”
Palmer is believed to have stubbed the toe on his left foot against a door in his house.
The next game he could potentially play in is on Dec. 3, when Chelsea travel north to Elland Road to face Leeds United. But there are no guarantee as when Maresca was asked when Palmer might return, the Italian coach replied: “Don’t know.”
