Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed that midfielder Cole Palmer will be out of action for another six weeks due to injury.
The 23-year-old England international has not played since Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester United on September 20, when he was forced off midway through the first half.
Maresca had initially expected Palmer to return after the international break but admitted on Friday that the timeline had been too optimistic.
“I was wrong. Unfortunately, he needs to be out probably six more weeks. So yes, this is the update,” Maresca said.
The manager, however, assured fans that Palmer will not need surgery.
“We’re trying to protect Cole as much as we can, and the most important thing is that when he returns, he’s fully recovered,” he added.
Speaking ahead of Chelsea’s Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest on Saturday, October 18, Maresca acknowledged that replacing Palmer would be difficult.
“We need to find a different solution, different skills, because we don’t have another player like Cole. He’s unique,” the coach said.
Palmer, who joined Chelsea from Manchester City, has been one of the team’s most influential and creative players this season.
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